AMAM/LokoAssist 2025

The 12th International Symposium on Adaptive Motion of Animals and Machines and 2nd LokoAssist Symposium

TU Darmstadt, Darmstadt, July 7th-11th, 2025

Exploring how animals and humans excel in adaptive movements, particularly locomotion, provides valuable insights for engineers seeking to enhance the adaptive capabilities of robots. In turn, robots serve as scientific tools to investigate the fundamental principles of biological systems, especially the neuromechanical mechanisms behind their remarkable motor abilities. This “adaptive intelligence” can be harnessed to design robots that improve our lives by assisting with locomotion. To comprehensively address the understanding of biological movement, the design of bioinspired robots, and their applications in assisting both humans and animals, we have merged the 12th AMAM symposium with the 2nd LokoAssist symposium, forming the AMAM/LokoAssist 2025 Symposium.

This event is dedicated to fostering fruitful interactions among biologists, engineers, and other researchers interested in adaptive motion. Previous AMAM symposia have been held in locations including Montreal, Canada (2000); Kyoto, Japan (2003); Ilmenau, Germany (2005); Cleveland, USA (2008); Awaji, Japan (2011); Darmstadt, Germany (2013); Cambridge, USA (2015); Sapporo, Japan (2017); Lausanne, Switzerland (2019); Virtual Platform (2021); and Kobe, Japan (2023).

By addressing the interdisciplinary challenge of integrating active locomotion devices—such as orthoses, exoskeletons, and prostheses—into the daily movement experience of users, LokoAssist will extend AMAM's focus on locomotion assistance applications. The first LokoAssist Symposium was held in Darmstadt (2023).

This AMAM/LokoAssist 2025 Symposium aims to bring together researchers from fields such as robotics, biomechanics, neuroscience, sports science, neurophysiology, brain science, prosthetics, and other disciplines related to adaptive behavior in both biological and artificial systems.

Venue

Bild: TU Darmstadt/Rahel Welsen
Bild: TU Darmstadt/Rahel Welsen

Wilhlem-Köhler-Saal

TU Darmstadt, S1|03,

Hochschulstr. 1, 64289 Darmstadt

Jan. 15, 2025: Opening of the extended abstract submission

Feb. 28, 2025: Mar. 10, 2025: Deadline of extended abstracts submission =>Closed

Mar. 11, 2025 Opening of the Robot Zoo Application submission

Apr. 15, 2025: Notification of acceptance for extended abstracts => announced

Apr. 15, 2025: Apr. 20, 2025: Extended Deadline of submission for Robot Zoo (Robot Demos) => Closed

Apr. 15, 2025: Conference Registration opens

Apr. 25, 2025: Notification of acceptance for Robot Zoo applications

Apr. 30, 2025: Deadline Notification of acceptance for Robot Zoo applications

Apr. 30, 2025: Deadline for Student support Application (see Registration for details)

Apr. 30, 2025: Deadline submission of Final version of extended abstracts (Camera ready)

May 15, 2025: Deadline for early bird Registration

Jul. 7-11, 2025: Conference

Preliminary Program of AMAM 2025

Preliminary Program of AMAM 2025, more details will be provided soon!
Preliminary Program of AMAM 2025, more details will be provided soon!

The Heinerfest is an annual festival held in Darmstadt, typically during the first weekend of July. Established in 1951, it has become one of the largest inner-city festivals in Germany, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The event features over 200 attractions, including amusement rides, food stalls, and live performances, spread throughout the city center.

The 2025 Heinerfest is scheduled from July 3 to July 7, marking its 75th edition. The festival concludes on July 7 with a performance by the band Pfund, known for their interpretations of songs by The Police and Kings of Leon.

This year, the final day of Heinerfest coincides with the welcome reception of our conference. Following the reception, we will organize a joint visit to the festival, offering attendees a chance to experience the lively atmosphere and local culture together.

Credit: Arthur Schönbein (https://www.heinerfest.de/das-heinerfest/bilder/pressebilder/#group-15)
Credit: Arthur Schönbein (https://www.heinerfest.de/das-heinerfest/bilder/pressebilder/#group-15)

The submission system is now open and will remain available until February 28th (extended to March 10th).

To submit your extended abstract, please use the following link:

OpenReview Submission Portal (Closed)

Please note that you will need an institutional email to submit via the OpenReview portal.

Format:

The Manuscripts should not exceed three pagesin total. One page is allocated for references, and the main content of the abstract should not exceed two pages. Please use the provided templates for submission: LaTeX (preferred) or Word. Download links for both templates are available below. Manuscripts that significantly deviate from the provided templates will be returned to the authors for reformatting.

Review procedure:

Submitted abstracts will undergo a peer-review process. Accepted abstracts will be published online on the conference website and in the TU Darmstadt scientific publication database.

Presentation Format:

Accepted abstracts will be presented in two formats: poster or oral. Authors can select their preferred format during the submission process. However, the editorial committee reserves the right to change the presentation format from oral to poster due to limitations in the number of oral presentations or based on reviewer evaluations.

At least one coauthor must register and present the accepted abstract at the conference for it to be included in the proceedings.

If you have any questions during the submission process, please contact us at: amamlokoassist@gmail.com.

Robot Zoo Information (Robot Demo)

The Robot Zoo is a special demo session at AMAM/LokoAssist 2025, inviting researchers to showcase their hardware, including robots, prostheses, orthoses, and more. Proposals from all areas related to adaptive motion in animals and machines and assistive technology are welcome. Proposals can be stand-alone or linked to an accepted paper at AMAM 2025. The demonstration will feature the hardware itself, and presenters will also be able to display a poster. The Robot Zoo session will be scheduled during the same time as the poster presentations. Demonstrators will also be able to provide brief remarks during the poster spotlight session.

Submission Requirements: Submit a one-page description including:

  • Demonstration title
  • Names, affiliations, and emails of demonstrators
  • System description, photos, and a maximum one-minute video of the demonstration or the robot
  • Equipment to be brought (e.g., laptop, robot)
  • Special requirements (e.g., space, table, power access)

Submissions are open now. The submission deadline has been extended to April 20th 2025 and acceptance will be notified by April 30.

OpenReview Submission Portal

Workshops & Tutorials at AMAM 2025

Workshop 1: MoBI (Mobile Brain and Body Imaging)
Workshop 2: Whitebox
Workshop 3: Bioinspired Actuators
Workshop 4: Central vs. Distributed Movement Control
Workshop 5: Movement Academy
Workshop 6: LokoAssist
Tutorial 1: MPC in Robotics
Tutorial 2: LocoMuJoCo
More information soon!

For detailed information about the workshops click here!

Speakers

Speaker Affiliation Topic/Title
Daniel Ferris University of Florida Robotic exoskeletons, bionic prostheses, and immersive virtual reality as tools to better understand brain and body connections
Sangbae Kim MIT Physical intelligence and Cognitive Biases Toward AI
Helen Huang UNC/NC Towards Human-Prosthesis Symbiosis
Madhusudhan Venkadesan Yale University The human foot
Oliver Brock TU Berlin Is Dexterous Manipulation in Robots Converging Towards How Humans Do It?
Katja Mombaur KIT & University of Waterloo, Canada Endowing humanoid robots with embodied intelligence: the roles of bio-inspiration, optimization and learning
Thorsten Zander BTU What Is Neuroadaptive AI and Why Will It Change Much More Than You Think?
Jan Veneman Hocoma Applying Robotics to Rehabilitate and Support Human Mobility
Koh Hosoda Kyoto University Quadruped Robots driven by Pneumatic Artificial Muscles
Poramate Manoonpong VISTEC, Thailand, SDU Denmark Bio-inspired Neural Control with Online Adaptation for Personalized Locomotion Assistance of Interactive Exoskeletons
Klaus Gramann TU Berlin Imaging the Human Brain in Real and Virtual Worlds
Rebecca Kramer Bottiglio Yale University Soft robots that adapt to changing tasks and environments
Speaker's page

Registration

Registration is open, please refer to this Link: Registration Portal

A limited number of student registration fee waivers are available. To apply, send your personal info, affiliation, accepted paper details, and a short motivation paragraph to the by April 30th. Selected applicants must register by the early bird deadline (15th of May).

Registration options:

Option 1 – Early bird student: 400,00€ (Available until May 15th)

Option 2 – Early bird regular: 550,00€ (Available until May 15th)

Option 3 – Student late: 550,00€

Option 4 – Regular late: 700,00€

Banquet: 85€

Program Committee

Auke Ijspeert (EPFL, Switzerland) Hitoshi Aonuma (Kobe University, Japan)
Sangbae Kim (MIT, USA) Fumia Iida (University of Cambridge, UK)
Koh Hosoda (Kyoto University, Japan) Ardian Jusufi (EMPA, Switzerland)
Barry Trimmer (Tufts University, USA) Sebastian Wolf (Heidelberg University, Germany)
Monica Daley (Center for Integrative Movement Sciences, UCI, USA) Herta Flor (Heidelberg University, Germany)
Akio Ishiguro (Tohoku University,Japan) Oskar von Stryk (TU Darmstadt, Germany)
Emily Standen (Biology Department, University of Ottawa, Canada) Poramate Manoonpong (VISTEC, Thailand and SDU, Denmark)

Useful Travel Information

The closest airport and also the best airport for international participants is Frankfurt am Main as the AirLiner bus to Darmstadt Central Station leaves directly at the airport.

Travel time with Deutsche Bahn from Berlin to Darmstadt takes about 5 hours, the journey from Munich to Darmstadt about 3.5 hours.

Arriving at Darmstadt Central Station you may use the local transportation to the conference venue.

If you travel by car, use the highway A5 (from Frankfurt/M. respectively Heidelberg/Basel) or the highway A67 (from Köln/Wiesbaden respectively Mannheim). Leave the highway at the exit 26 “Darmstädter Kreuz” to Darmstadt. After leaving the highway follow the Rheinstrasse and the traffic signs to “TU-Stadtmitte” (TU-Citycentre). Use the Cityring-Tunnel and after leaving the tunnel turn left into the Hügelstrasse. After the traffic lights turn left into the Kirchstrasse. Straight ahead at the next big crossing until the next traffic light and then turn right into the Alexanderstrasse. Turn left into Magdalenenstrasse and at your first left you will be in front of the venue at Hochschulstrasse 1. Note that there is limited public parking in the surrounding area.

Recommendations for Accomodation:

A limited number of discounted rooms have been reserved at the Welcome Hotel Darmstadt for AMAM/LokoAssist 2025 participants. To receive the discount, please use the booking code AMAM2025 when making your reservation.

Karolinenplatz 4

64289 Darmstadt

Tel.: +49 6151 39140

(about 0.3 km to the conference venue)

Intercity Hotel Darmstadt

Poststraße 12

64293 Darmstadt

Deutschland

Tel.: +49 6151 90691-0

Mail: darmstadt@intercityhotel.com

(about 2 km to the conference venue, bus station nearby)

THE Darmstadt

Kasinostraße 6

64293 Darmstadt

Tel.: +49 (0)6151 39700

Mail: reservierung@the-da.de

(about 1.2 km to the conference venue, bus station nearby)

Felix Hotel

Kasinostrasse 4

64293 Darmstadt

Tel.: +49 06151-3973720

(about 1.2 km to the conference venue, bus station nearby)

Rheinstraße 105

64295 Darmstadt

Telefon: +49 (0) 6151 878-0

(close to main train station, about 2.2 km to the conference venue, bus station nearby)

Grafenstr. 31

64283 Darmstadt

Tel.: +49 6151 28100

(about 1.1 km to the conference venue, bus station nearby)

Dieburger Str. 257

64287 Darmstadt

Tel.: +49 6151 712266

(about 3.5 km to the conference venue, bus station nearby)

Sights of Darmstadt

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2021, Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt exemplifies Art Nouveau architecture.Established as an artists' colony between 1899 and 1914, the ensemble includes the Wedding Tower, Exhibition Hall, Artists' Colony Museum, and artist houses, reflecting the city's rich artistic heritage.

This museum offers collections spanning art, culture, and natural history. Visitors can explore exhibits ranging from prehistoric artifacts to contemporary art. The museum is open Tuesday to Friday from 11 am to 6 pm, with extended hours until 8 pm on Wednesdays, and on weekends and public holidays from 11 am to 6 pm.

Located on one of Darmstadt's hills, Park Rosenhöhe is a landscape park featuring rose gardens, orchard meadows, historic buildings, sculptures, and the burial sites of the Hesse-Darmstadt family. The park provides a calm environment for walks and is open to the public.

Built around 1720, the Orangerie is a baroque palace originally designed to shelter citrus plants during winter. Today, it serves as a venue for various events and is surrounded by a beautiful park.

Designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and completed in 2000, the Waldspirale is a residential complex known for its spiraling structure and forested roof. The building features over 1,000 uniquely shaped windows and various trees growing on its undulating roof, reflecting Hundertwasser's vision of integrating architecture with nature.

General Chair & Co-Chair

  Name Contact
Dr. Maziar Ahmad Sharbafi
Scientific Coordinator
+49 6151 16- 24133
S1|15 46
Prof. Dr. André Seyfarth

Local Committee

Aida Mohammadi Nejad Rashty
Dr. Muhammad Bilal Kahn
Jennifer Raynaud M.Sc.
Morteza Khosrotabar
Sabine Matthäus-Busch
Sebastian Hirt M.Sc.
Vahid Firouzi M.Sc.
Victoria Ott
Ursula Wolf

Sponsors of AMAM 2025

For inquiries about AMAM use: