Developmental Cognitive Robotics

Angelo Cangelosi serves as Professor of Machine Learning and Robotics at the University of Manchester and Turing Fellow at the Alan Turing Institute. After completing studies in psychology and cognitive science at the Universities of Rome La Sapienza and Genoa, he has established himself as a leading researcher in developmental robotics and human-robot interaction. His work focuses on language grounding and embodiment in humanoid robots, with applications of neuromorphic systems for robot learning. As coordinator of major European projects including APRIL, THRIVE++, and MoveCare, he has secured over £30m in research grants. His academic contributions include more than 250 scientific publications and two influential books on developmental robotics. As former Chair of the IEEE Technical Committee on Autonomous Mental Development and Editor of multiple prestigious journals, he continues to shape the field of cognitive robotics while fostering international collaboration through visiting professorships at Waseda University and various Italian institutions.

Matthew Schlesinger serves as Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences in the Department of Psychology and Adjunct Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. His research focuses on understanding cognitive development through computational modeling and robotic simulations. As director of the SIU Vision Lab, he leads research exploring how vision functions as an improvable skill and guides motor skill development. His groundbreaking work includes co-authoring "Developmental Robotics: From Babies to Robots" with Angelo Cangelosi, published by MIT Press, which explores how understanding infant learning can inform robot development