Summer Screws 2026

Long name:

11st International Summer School on Screw-Theory Based Methods in Robotics

Short name:

Summer Screws 2026

Corresponding chair:

prof. Guangbo Hao

Venue short name:

UCC

Venue:

University College Cork, Ireland

Date:

18.07.2026 - 26.07.2026

Website:

Screws 26 (to come soon)

Abstract:

The International Summer School on Screw-Theory Based Methods in Robotics (Summer Screws) has been organized since 2009. The 11st IFToMM International Summer School on Screw Theory Based Methods in Robotics (Summer Screws 2026) will held at University College Cork, Ireland from 18th to 26th July 2026. The Summer School’s instructors are renowned international experts on Screw Theory, and some of its main areas of application in robotics as well as mechanism analysis and design. The program will introduce basic theoretical notions in a rigorous manner, with a focus on examples, applications, and exercises. This summer school is suitable for M.Sc. students, Ph.D. students, post-docs, and early-caeer academic staff, as well as participants from industry who want to enhance their skills in this field. Screw theory was founded by Prof. Robert Ball from Ireland. He published 'The theory of screws: a study in the dynamics of a rigid body' in 1876, which is 150 years old this year. We will host some meaningful commemorative events for Prof. Ball.

Topics:

Commemorative events for the Ball sesquicentenary of his theory of screws
Basic vector-space properties of twists and wrenches: physical interpretation of the linear operations; linear dependence and independence, subspaces; bases and coordinates.
Geometry of screw systems. Classification of two- and three-systems of screws. Persistent screw systems
Scalar products, dual spaces, reciprocity. Constraint and freedom in mechanisms. Constraint analysis. Type synthesis of single-loop mechanisms and parallel manipulators.
Velocity and singularity analysis of mechanisms. Derivation of input-output velocity equations and singularity conditions
Formulation of the dynamics of individual rigid bodies and rigid-body systems. Equations of motion. Dynamics algorithms
Basic Lie group theory, matrix representations of the group of rigid-body displacements. Lie algebras as related to screw theory. The exponential map and its applications in modern robotics

Fees:

Early bird - IFToMM Community

€479

Early bird - Regular Attendees

€499

Early bird - Students

€479

Early bird - Accompanying Persons

Regular - IFToMM Community

€579

Regular - Regular Attendees

€599