In swarm robotics systems, coordinated behaviors emerge via local interactions among the robots as well as between robots and the environment. From Kilobots to Intel Aeros, the last decade has seen a rapid increase in the number of physically instantiated robot swarms. Such deployments can be broadly classified into two categories: in-laboratory swarms designed primarily as research aids, and industry-led efforts, especially in the entertainment and automated warehousing domains. In both of these categories, researchers have accumulated a vast amount of domain-specific knowledge, for example, regarding physical robot design, algorithm and software architecture design, human-swarm interfacing, and the practicalities of deployment.

The primary aim of this workshop is to identify and accelerate developments that help swarm robotics technology transition into the real world. The workshop will bring together swarm roboticists to share their latest developments—from theory to real-world deployment. We solicit the participation of researchers from across academia and industry with diverse backgrounds, including computer science, engineering, and natural sciences, with the intention of fostering cross-disciplinary discussions and collaborations. A vibrant program including talks by leading experts, focused panel discussions, poster presentations, and live demonstrations will further encourage the participation of students and early-career researchers.