Galle Robotics Meetup

Robotic Innovations for Addressing Pressing Challenges in the Developing World

Advancements in robotic mobility and perception are opening new avenues to address critical challenges faced by developing nations. These technologies hold the potential to drive efficiency and innovation across diverse sectors:

• Agricultural Transformation: Many countries still rely on inefficient agronomy methods, often constrained by limited agricultural space. Robotic systems, including drones equipped with multimodal sensing, can revolutionize farming by enabling plant health monitoring, precision treatment, and optimized harvesting techniques.
• Sustainable Marine Resource Utilization: Island nations possess abundant marine resources beyond traditional fisheries, which remain underutilized. Robotic interventions in harvesting and processing could unlock the potential to convert these resources into high-value products, fostering economic growth.
• Heritage and Tourism Enhancement: Developing countries near ancient shipping routes are custodians of rich maritime history, including historical shipwrecks. Democratizing access to these underwater artifacts through immersive experience technologies can enhance tourism and cultural appreciation.
• Disease Control in Tropical Regions: Mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue and Malaria claim countless lives in tropical countries. Imaging and sensing techniques, inspired by precision agriculture, can be adapted to detect mosquito breeding grounds. Automated interventions can target these areas, significantly improving public health outcomes.

These examples underscore the transformative role robotics can play in creating sustainable solutions for some of the most pressing global challenges. However, technology adoption is meaningful only in a sustainable business model grounded in the local context.

This 2-day Robotics Meetup aims to bring together robotics innovators, entrepreneurs, and application stakeholders to brainstorm and explore collaborative opportunities that can create real-world impact under four themes particularly relevant to developing countries.

What makes this meetup unique?

This is not a traditional academic conference. Instead, it’s a multidisciplinary, user-centered design ideation meetup focused on:

• Precision agriculture
• Shallow water marine resource harvesting
• Immersive experiences in remote tourism
• Countering mosquito-borne diseases

We’ll focus on brainstorming solutions that combine technology and user needs to create meaningful change. The specific applications can be anywhere in the world. The workshop will discuss common challenges and opportunities in the countries or regions represented by the participants.

When and where?

This Robotics Meetup will be held in the historic city of Galle, Sri Lanka on 11th and 12th September 2025.

Who is encouraged to attend?

Anyone with experience in connecting diverse experts and stakeholders for impactful projects is welcome. You don’t need to be a Sri Lankan or from a developing country either. You can bring robotics expertise, or business and problem solving skills in other domains.

Register at this Eventbrite page.

If you have any questions, please contact Thrishantha Nanayakkara (Email: t.nanayakkara@imperial.ac.uk )