International Conference Series on Climbing and Walking Robots and the Support Technologies for Mobile Machines

Download The CLAWAR 2026 Call for Papers Brochure (PDF)

Scope

• Agricultural robots
• Assistive robots
• Autonomous robots
• Biologically-inspired systems and solutions
• Biomedical robots
• Construction
• Co-operative robot systems
• Domestic robots
• Education
• Emergency & rescue operations
• Entertainment
• Flexible manoeuvring systems
• Flexible manipulators
• Flying robots
• Guidance and navigation
• Helping the elderly and the disabled
• Human-Machine/ Human-Robot interaction
• Hybrid locomotion
• Innovative actuators and power supplies
• Innovative design of CLAWAR
• Innovative sensors and sensor networks
• Inspection
• Intelligence and learning for CLAWAR
• Legged locomotion
• Manipulation and gripping
• Manufacturing
• Medical robotics
• Micro and nano robots
• Modelling and simulation
• Nature-inspired systems and solutions
• Perception and situation awareness
• Performing and creative arts robots
• Personal care robots
• Petrochemical applications
• Planetary exploration
• Planning and control
• Positioning and localisation
• Reconnaissance
• Rehabilitation and function restoration
• Robot ethics
• Robot safety
• Rural robots
• Security
• Sensor fusion
• Service robots
• Robot regulation and standardisation
• Social robots
• Space robots
• Sport and exercise robots
• Surveillance
• Swarm robotics
• Tele-operated robots
• Tele-presence and virtual reality
• Underwater and sea robotics
• Wheeled locomotion

CLAWAR 2026 warmly invites proposals for half-day special sessions and workshops. Special sessions and workshops will be held along with the main conference at the same venue as the conference. The primary criteria for selection are the anticipated level of interest, the potential impact, and the confirmed invited speakers.

For special sessions, a one-page proposal is required and should consist of the following elements:

1. Title.
2. Organizers (Names, affiliations, emails), specifying one corresponding organizer.
3. Description of the special session, 500 words maximum. Includes motivations for the special session, the names of invited speakers (if any), paper submission plan (dates, paper length, ..), etc.

For tutorials, a one-page proposal is required and should consist of the following elements:

1. Title
2. Presenters (short biography of each)
3. Table of contents
4. Suggested format (lecturing/interactive)

Topics of Interest

We encourage submissions related to (but not limited to):

• Agricultural robots
• Assistive robots
• Autonomous robots
• Biologically-inspired systems and solutions
• Biomedical robots
• Construction
• Co-operative robot systems
• Domestic robots
• Education
• Emergency & rescue operations
• Entertainment
• Flexible maneuvering systems
• Flexible manipulators
• Flying robots
• Guidance and navigation
• Helping the elderly and the disabled
• Human-Machine/ Human-Robot interaction
• Hybrid locomotion
• Innovative actuators and power supplies
• Innovative design of CLAWAR
• Innovative sensors and sensor networks
• Inspection
• Intelligence and learning for CLAWAR
• Legged locomotion
• Manipulation and gripping
• Manufacturing
• Medical robotics
• Micro and nanorobots
• Modelling and simulation
• Nature-inspired systems and solutions
• Perception and situation awareness
• Performing and creative arts robots
• Personal care robots
• Petrochemical applications
• Planetary exploration
• Planning and control
• Positioning and localization
• Reconnaissance
• Rehabilitation and function restoration
• Robot ethics
• Robot safety
• Rural robots
• Security
• Sensor fusion
• Service robots
• Robot regulation and standardization
• Social robots
• Space robots
• Sport and exercise robots
• Surveillance
• Swarm robotics
• Tele-operated robots
• Tele-presence and virtual reality
• Underwater and sea robotics
• Wheeled locomotion

Submission

Special Session/Workshop Proposal must be submitted in PDF format to

clawar2026@cranfield.ac.uk     

We look forward to hosting your special session/workshop at CLAWAR 2026!

Details of how to submit your paper. 

On-site accommodation is very limited please contact cmdcreservations@cranfield.ac.uk for the latest availability and pricing.

Nearby hotels:

The Carrington Arms
2 miles from Cranfield University
https://www.thecarringtonarms.co.uk/

Holiday Inn Milton Keynes East
4.3 miles from Cranfield University
https://www.hi-miltonkeynes-east.co.uk/

Travelodge Bedford Marston Moretaine
4.5 miles from Cranfield University
https://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/11/Bedford-Marston-Moretaine-hotel

Broughton Hotel
4.7 miles from Cranfield University
https://www.greenekinginns.co.uk/hotels/buckinghamshire/broughton-hotel

Harben House Hotel
6 miles from Cranfield University
https://harbenhouse.co.uk/

Hotel La Tour
7.1 miles from Cranfield University
https://www.hotelsone.com/milton-keynes-hotels-gb/hotel-la-tour.html

Doubletree by Hilton (Milton Keynes football stadium)
8 miles from Cranfield University
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/ltndtdi-doubletree-milton-keynes

Leonardo Hotel
8 miles from Cranfield University
https://www.leonardohotels.co.uk/milton-Keynes

Moxy
8 miles from Cranfield University
https://www.marriott.com/en-gb/hotels/ltnox-moxy-milton-keynes 

Cranfield is a small village in Bedfordshire with a historic feel and countryside charm. It is close to both Milton Keynes and Bedford, so many visitors use it as a base for exploring the wider region, especially if they are interested in walking, cycling or rural life. Cranfield is perhaps best known for its university and its airport, formerly a Second World War RAF base and now used for small aircraft and research flights.

The village itself has a few local pubs and cafés and makes a peaceful stop on country walks or bike rides through the surrounding fields and woodlands. If you love outdoor activities, you can plan walks or cycle rides in the nearby countryside. For family visitors there are nearby attractions a short drive away such as Woburn Abbey and Woburn Safari Park.

Because Cranfield is small there are not many major tourist sites right in the village, so most visitors plan day trips out to larger nearby towns or sit down for a relaxed meal after exploring the farmland and local paths.

Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes is a modern, planned city in Buckinghamshire. It is known for its green spaces, central shopping areas and range of culture and entertainment options. The city sits about ten minutes by road from Cranfield and makes an easy day trip.

Highlights in and around the city include:

· Bletchley Park https://www.bletchleypark.org.uk for history and the story of codebreaking in the Second World War. It is one of the most visited attractions in the area.

· Willen Lake https://www.willenlake.org.uk, a large park and lake perfect for walking, water sports, and family days out.

· Milton Keynes Museum https://miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk, which tells the story of local life and industry, including railways and rural heritage.

· Campbell Park https://www.theparkstrust.com/find-a-park and Milton Keynes Rose https://miltonkeynesrose.org.uk, large open spaces for picnics, views and relaxation close to the city centre.

· The Tree Cathedral https://www.theparkstrust.com/find-a-park/tree-cathedral and Ouzel Valley Park [https://www.theparkstrust.com/find-a-park/ouzel-valley-park] for nature walks and peaceful green space.

· Bancroft Roman Villa https://www.theparkstrust.com/our-work/heritage/bancroft-roman-villa if you enjoy archaeological sites and local history.

· Public art and quirky landmarks such as Concrete Cows [https://www.theparkstrust.com/our-work/public-art/concrete-cows], a symbol of the city’s planned heritage and a good photo stop.

Computing history, robotics, AI, or general engineering

Recommendations for visitors with an interest in robotics, computing and technological heritage when based around Cranfield and Milton Keynes, England.

Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park is one of the most significant sites in the history of computing and codebreaking. During the Second World War this estate was the principal centre for Allied cryptanalysis, where teams worked on machines such as the Enigma and Lorenz ciphers and where key figures including Alan Turing made foundational contributions to computer science. The current visitor attraction combines restored historic buildings, interpretive exhibits and interactive displays about wartime codebreaking and early computing. The official website includes practical visitor information, opening hours and ticketing.
Visit: https://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/

The National Museum of Computing
Located on the Bletchley Park estate but run as a separate institution, this museum houses the world’s largest collection of working historic computers. It presents the evolution of computing technology from early machines through to modern systems. Highlights include rebuilt versions of the Colossus computer and other pioneering machines that shaped computing and, by extension, the foundations of robotics and artificial intelligence. The museum often offers educational programmes, demonstrations and events that explore computation, logic and coding in depth.
Visit: http://www.tnmoc.org/

Both of these sites are reachable from Milton Keynes by public transport or taxi and form a combined full-day outing for anyone interested in the history of computing and the roots of modern intelligent systems.

Waddesdon Manor (Buckinghamshire)
Waddesdon Manor is a Rothschild country house managed by the National Trust and makes an excellent visit for anyone interested in the longer history of “robotic” ingenuity. Alongside its art collections and architecture, it is associated with a famous musical mechanical elephant automaton (1774), a striking example of early mechanised craftsmanship designed to create lifelike movement through intricate engineering. For visitors who enjoy robotics, automation, and the evolution of intelligent machines, it offers an unusual but genuinely relevant complement to more modern computing sites such as Bletchley Park.

More information (including visiting details) is available via the National Trust website: https://waddesdon.org.uk

Silverstone Museum
While not strictly focused on robotics, the Silverstone Museum at the Silverstone Circuit (about 45–50 minutes’ drive from Cranfield) explores engineering innovation and technological evolution in motorsport. Many visitors with an interest in mechanical systems, automation and advanced design find the technical exhibits engaging. The museum covers motorsport heritage and engineering excellence across decades of racing history. This can complement visits to computing and robotics landmarks with mechanical and systems engineering context.

Other suggestions for robot or engineering enthusiasts include the Shuttleworth Collection near Biggleswade (about 40 minutes from Cranfield). Although this is primarily an aviation and historic machinery attraction rather than a dedicated robotics venue, it offers a strong sense of engineering history and innovation that may appeal to those who appreciate machine design. (See https://www.shuttleworth.org/ for details.)

For any visits to these sites it is advisable to check opening times and ticketing in advance, as many places have seasonal schedules or require pre-booking for special exhibits or tours.

Shopping and culture

Milton Keynes has large contemporary shopping centres with hundreds of stores. The Centre https://www.centremk.com and nearby retail parks provide fashion, dining and occasional special attractions. The city also offers theatre, cinema and live events throughout the year.

Transport and practicalities

Milton Keynes is well connected by train from London, Birmingham and other UK cities. From Cranfield you can reach Milton Keynes by car or bus in about 15 to 30 minutes. The area around both towns is easy to explore by cycling, with dedicated paths in Milton Keynes and pleasant country lanes around Cranfield.

Visa/ETA Information

To visit the UK, you may need a Standard Visitor visa (£127) if you are a visa national, or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) (£16) if you are a non-visa national (e.g. EU, USA). Both generally allow for tourism for up to 6 months. Apply online in advance via GOV.UK. 

Key Details

· Duration: Most visitor visas and ETAs allow stays of up to 6 months.

· Requirement Check: Use the official GOV.UK Check if you need a UK visa tool to confirm your specific requirements based on nationality.

· ETA (New Requirement): As of 2025/2026, many visitors (including those previously visa-exempt) require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter, which is applied for via the UK ETA app (iOS) or UK ETA app (Android).

· Standard Visitor Visa: Required for nationals from countries not in the exempt list, requiring biometric info at a visa application centre.

· Validity: You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your trip.

Ensure your passport is valid for the duration of your stay.