Biomimetic robotics is attracting the interest of a growing number of robotics researchers worldwide. The advancements of robotics technologies have recently led to an increased interest towards biomimetic robotics also in the scientific fields related to biology and to the study of living organisms. In fact, biomimetic robotics can represent today a powerful tool for experimental investigation of the sophisticated mechanisms and amazing sensory-motor performance that many living organisms show.

With this workshop, we wish to contribute to the discussion on the development of biomimetic robots, not just as robotic systems implementing solutions inspired by Nature, but as platforms for biological studies: building a biomimetic robot allows to thoroughly understand the biomechanics, control, perception, and behaviour of the reference animal. At the same time, biomimetism can be a key approach to design and develop dramatically novel robotic systems, possessing sensory-motor performance more similar to those of real-world living organisms. Mimicking animals, or even plants, requires deep investigation of new materials, mechanisms, sensors, actuators, and control schemes and can lead to breakthrough advances of robotics technologies.

The workshop aims at gathering robotics and biology researchers among the key actors of biomimetic robotics worldwide, with the objectives of:

- providing an authoritative overview of biomimetic robotics achievements;

- stimulating a fruitful and attractive discussion on this emerging scientific area, not only restricted to the robotics community, but enlarged to an interaction with the biology community;

- creating an occasion in which biologists and roboticists can offer different perspectives and viewpoints in developing a new class of biomimetic robots, which exhibit different performance compared with the today's robots, in terms of materials, fabrication technologies, sensors and actuators;

- outlining the current opportunities and challenges of biomimetic robotics.

The workshop will include a panel discussion open to all the attendees. The workshop speakers and additional experts will animate the discussion, by briefly presenting key issues that deserve further analysis and interdisciplinary debate.

The workshop is intended for the robotic researchers and the biologists who share this vision of biomimetic robotics, including the young students and researches who are encouraged to enter this emerging and challenging field of research.