RSS 2026 — Robotics: Science and Systems

## TEE Take

**RSS** (Robotics: Science and Systems) is the most selective robotics conference in the world — roughly 30% the size of **ICRA** with higher per-paper quality. The single-track format means every attendee sees the same work, creating shared context that makes hallway conversations extraordinarily productive. If **ICRA** is the robotics industry's trade show, **RSS** is its PhD seminar.

**MIT** as the host venue this year is significant — the concentration of robotics labs within walking distance means demos, lab tours, and informal sessions that don't appear on the official schedule.

## Insider Tip

The workshop day (Day 0) is invitation-only for many sessions but the main workshop on robot learning is open. Get there early — the **MIT Stata Center** auditorium fills fast. The outdoor demo session on the Stata loading dock is where the most impressive hardware shows up; it's not listed prominently on the schedule but it's the highlight. Stay for the conference dinner — the informal conversations there have catalyzed multiple research collaborations.

## What to Expect

Three days of single-track presentations with 50-60 accepted papers (from 500+ submissions). Topics emphasize foundational robotics: manipulation, planning, perception, and control theory. Workshops bookend the main conference. Expect 400-600 attendees — intimate by conference standards, which is the point. The academic depth is unmatched.

## Who Should Attend

Robotics CTOs who want to understand where the fundamental research is heading. Investors doing deep technical diligence on robotics companies. PhD students and postdocs on the job market. Anyone who finds ICRA too broad and wants the concentrated version.