Prof. Andrey Ronzhin is Director of St. Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SPС RAS). He is a specialist in the field of human–machine interaction research, artificial intelligence and robotics. Under his leadership, the technological foundations for the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning methods in the digital means of natural language analysis and control of interoperable socio-cyber-physical and robotic systems were developed. Mathematical and algorithmic models, methods and prototypes of proactive automation tools for information, physical and energy interaction of heterogeneous robotic and cyber-physical complexes have been developed. He is Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the journal "Informatics and automation," Member of the Editorial Board of the journals "Analysis and Data Processing Systems," "Speech Technologies." He is Member of the Scientific Boards of Departments of the Russian Academy of Sciences "Scientific Foundations of Information Technologies and Automation," “Robotics and Mechatronics,” “Theory and control processes,” “Mechanical engineering.” He is Member of Scientific Board of Robotics and Mechatronics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Navigation and Motion Control. He is Co-chair of International Conference on Interactive Collaborative Robotics (ICR) and Chair of Program Committee of International Conference on Agriculture Digitalization and Organic Production (ADOP). He is Co-editor of 11 books and Co-author of over 300 refereed journal papers, 4 manuals, 2 monographs.Prof. Viacheslav Pshikhopov is Director of Research Institute of Robotics and Control Systems, Southern Federal University. He is Director of Coordinating Research and Development Center for Control Systems of Southern Federal University and Founder and Leader of Youth Design Agency “Robotics and intellectual systems.” He is Member of the Academy of Engineering Sciences, named after A.M. Prokhorov. His research interests cover control systems of mobile robots and manipulators; adaptive and optimal control of moving objects; group control of mobile robots, bio-inspired control of robots. Under his leadership, the control theory of complex dynamical systems in uncertain environment was developed. The bio-inspired method of unstable modes for control of mobile robots and the group of mobile robots was developed, and the problem of analytical design of optimal control performance for manipulators and mobile robots was solved. The developments of his scientific school have been implemented in dozens of samples of mobile robots, including aeronautical platforms, wheeled and tracked robots and unmanned boats. He is one of the organizers and coordinators of the Interdepartmental Coordinating Scientific and Technical Council for Information Management and Processing Systems. He is Member of the Editorial Board of the journals “Facta Universitatis,” “Mechatronics, Automation, Control,” “Informatics and Automation.” He is Co-author of over 320 refereed journal papers, 20 patents, 11 monographs.
