Using fuzzy logic for autonomous robotics: an on-line workshop

organized the rst of a series of on-line workshops, entirely held on the World Wide Web. The advertised advantages of the on-line format were to allow fruitful exchanges while avoiding physical travels , and to guarantee a wide visibility of the discussion. The rst two workshops in the series were devoted to evolutionary computation; they can be accessed on the web at The third workshop, named \First On-Line Workshop on Soft Computing" (WSC1), had a broader scope, including all the techniques that go under the heading of \soft computing ," like fuzzy logic, neuro computing, genetic computing, and so on. WSC1 took place from August 19 to 30, 1996, and it is accessible via on the web at of an on-line workshop is to prompt discussion, the rules for submission were looser than in most traditional workshops: papers were not subject to peer review, and it was possible to submit already published papers. 1 All the submitted papers were made visible on the web one week before the workshop, and people could send comments and questions by e-mail during the two workshop weeks; all the questions, comments, and authors' replies are also visible at the WSC1 web site. The rst edition of the \Using Fuzzy Logic for Autonomous Robotics" event (FLAR, for short) was included as a special session of WSC1. Several reasons suggested the need for a session on this subject. First, there is a clear emerging market for truly autonomous robots; possible applications range from intelligent service robots in ooces, hospitals and factory oors, to maintenance robots 1 The original contributions to the workshop have been collected into a proceeding volume, available from the WSC1 organizers by sending