tl;dr 4/22- We are still actively looking for lightning talk and conference speakers as well as table demo’ers for the demo alley (as well as dance-off participants — humans allowed!). Please apply or email hexacon2013@gmail.com, and register at hexacon2013.eventbrite.com . Thanks! –Nancy
The world’s first Hexapod Conference and Convention will be held on May 4th, 2013, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and we are accepting proposals for talks, workshops, and demonstrations.
The aim of this conference is to foster relationships between academics and non-academics working on hexapod (six-legged robot)-related topics. Additionally, a major aim of this convention is to have a lot of fun, especially since this conference is made possible by the DeFlorez Humor Fund.
Hexacon will take place at the MIT International Design Center on the third floor of building N52, right next to the MIT Museum.
Scholarships to cover travel and lodging of up to $100 will be awarded on a needs-based basis. To apply, please fill out this form: http://hexacon2013.mit.edu/?page_id=8. Additionally, if you seek lodging and are willing to couch-surf, we may be able to match you with an MIT student host for the duration of the event. Please fill out: http://hexacon2013.mit.edu/?page_id=29
There will be a prize for the most humorous hexapod demonstration as well as the best presenter.
The conference website may be found at http://hexacon2013.mit.edu. If you have any questions, please email hexacon2013@gmail.com .
Schedule
09:00 – 09:30 Registration & Breakfast
09:30 – 10:00 Keynote Speaker (Professor Sangbae Kim of the MIT Biomimetics Robotics Lab)
10:15 – 11:05 Five-minute lightning talks (+5 minutes each for questions) *
11:05 – 11:20 Break
11:20 – 12:00 Lightning Talks continued (9 total)
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch **
13:00 – 13:30 Hexapod Competitions (including a hexapod dance off! Humans allowed if they are dressed as hexapods)
13:30 – 16:00 Talks and Workshops ***
16:00 – 16:30 Concluding Remarks. appetizers provided (potentially related to hexapods)
* Ranging for humorous (e.g. giant homemade hexapods) to serious (e.g. travel over rough terrain)
** Tables set up county-fair booth-style for demonstrations and mingling
*** These will partly be organized on the fly, barcamp-style; to guarantee a spot, submit a proposal (see website) and we will let you know by April 29th.
Looking forward to seeing you and your hexapods there!
For inspiration for the dance-off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6g610buepo
For dance-off human dress inspiration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aybs6rmcjk8
(based on UC Berkeley’s Biomimetic Millisystems lab’s research)