RoboStar Summer School

29 June – 2 July, 2026

Department of Computer Science & Institute for Safe Autonomy, University of York, UK

The RoboStar Summer School is a four-day, in-person event, hosted at the University of York, dedicated to Software Engineering of trustworthy robotic systems. It brings together leading international researchers and industry practitioners to present the full range of RoboStar technologies, from modelling and simulation to deployment and assurance.

Attendees will learn about the state of the art on design and verification of robots, using a unique comprehensive and open approach co-developed by academics and industrialists from six countries.

Over more than ten years, RoboStar has developed comprehensive technology that focuses on the deployment of trustworthy software for robotics, covering modelling, ethical and legal considerations, adaptation, simulation, testing and deployment. Follow RoboStar on LinkedIn  for more information and updates.

The summer school offers a unique opportunity to:

• Learn directly from the researchers behind RoboStar’s pioneering work on trustworthy software for robotics.
• Take part in eight in-depth mini-courses, introducing novel diagrammatic notations, controlled natural languages, techniques, and tools, grounded in real-world use cases from research and industry.
• Build connections with other early career researchers and industry professionals working on autonomous and robotic systems.
• Visit the Institute for Safe Autonomy to learn about its work and see its cutting-edge facilities.

Confirmed speakers and contributors

We are delighted to confirm contributions and participation from the leaders of RoboStar branches around the world:

From RoboStar Brazil

Augusto Cesar Alves Sampaio

Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (Brazil)

Biography

From RoboStar Denmark

Peter Gorm Larsen

Vice-Head of section, Professor at Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Aarhus University (Denmark)

Biography

From RoboStar France

Thierry Lecomte

R&D Project Director at CLEARSY (France)

Biography

From RoboStar Germany

Felix Brüning

PhD Candidate, University of Bremen (Germany) | Software Verification & Testing in Industry

Biography

From RoboStar Norway

David A. Anisi

Associate Professor - Agricultural Robotics at NMBU (Norwegian University of Life Sciences) (Norway)

Biography

From RoboStar York

Radu Calinescu

Professor at the University of York

Biography

Ana Cavalcanti

Professor at the University of York, Director of RoboStar

Biography

Jim Woodcock

Professor Emeritus at the University of York

Biography

Simon Foster

Senior Lecturer at the University of York

Biography

Alvaro Miyazawa

Lecturer at the University of York

Biography

Pedro Ribeiro

Lecturer at the University of York

Biography

Ziggy Attala

Researcher at the University of York

Biography

James Baxter

Researcher at the University of York

Biography

Holly Hendry

Researcher at the University of York

Biography

Programme

You can see the full programme on a separate page here: Programme.

Who should attend

• Early Career Researchers
• Industry professionals working on robotic or safety-critical systems

Registration

Cost: £30 registration fee (coffee breaks and lunches provided).

Places are limited. Early registration is recommended.

You can now register here: Registration.

Accommodation

York has many options for accommodation which can be booked directly with the hotel or through booking sites such as Booking.com and Airbnb. To help you with the search, we have provided links to some hotels within walking distance of the School or on a bus route.

Here is a map of all the recommended locations:

Travelodge Hull Road – Located outside of the city centre and within a 20 minute walk to the School, this is a budget friendly option.

Premier Inn Blossom Street North & South – A short walk to York City Centre. These two Premier Inn Hotels are located a 10 minute walk to York Train Station and close to the bus stop for the bus routes U1 and U2 taking you to Campus East, the location of the School. A mid price range option.

The Milner Hotel – Located a short walk to York City Centre and next door to York Train Station. The bus stop for the bus routes U1 and U2 is located in front of the station. A more luxurious option at the higher end of the budget.

Hotel Indigo – Located a short walk to York City Centre, a 30 minute walk to York Train Station and close to cafes, bars and restaurants. The bus stop for the bus route U1 is close to the hotel. A more luxurious option. We do have a code available which provides a discount on the price advertised on the website. Please email us at iwb-events@york.ac.uk for the code.

Note for people coming from outside the UK: Even if you do not require a visa to enter the UK, you may still need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before your trip. Please check your eligibility and apply in advance.

Contact

For more information please reach out to us at cs-events@york.ac.uk.

Directions

Information about how to get to York is available on the website for the University of York.

Once in York, you can use public transport to travel between the University of York and York city centre and between the University of York Campuses.

Useful information about the bus routes and free travel between campuses is available in the University of York Public Transport Guide.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at cs-events@york.ac.uk.

If you are coming by car, please be aware that parking is not free during weekdays. Please click here to visit the Pay and Display page to find out more. Below here is a map of Campus East, where you could park your car and amenities:

1. Kimberlow Hill Retail Park includes a Nisa and a number of eateries
2. Bus stop for routes U1 and U2 going to York train station and The Milner Hotel
3. Pay and Display car parks
4. Bus stop for routes U1 and U2 arriving from York city centre
5. Ron Cooke Hub and Cafe
6. Piazza building with cafeteria and Starbucks
7. Department of Computer Science

Recommended Restaurants

• Ate O’Clock
• Rustique
• Forest
• Yakamoz
• Blue Barbakan
• Khaosan Road Thai Tapas

About RoboStar

RoboStar is one of the largest research groups in the world that brings a diverse membership of researchers working in robotics under a single umbrella. Its membership comprises UK researchers from the universities of York, Sheffield and King’s College, as well as researchers from around the world: Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, and Norway.

Follow RoboStar on LinkedIn.

About the Institute for Safe Autonomy

The Institute for Safe Autonomy (ISA) at the University of York takes a safety critical approach to the design, development and testing of robotics and connected autonomous systems. ISA’s purpose-built facility provides collaborative work and test spaces for more than 100 researchers across a variety of disciplines, including Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Law, Management and Philosophy. ISA’s sector-agnostic safety experts work in partnership with academia, industry, government and civil society to research safe, ethical, real-world applications for autonomous systems.