The IARP Workshop on Underwater Robotics, IWUR 2005, is coming back to Europe. Our last European Workshop was held in Toulon, France, in 1996 and was followed by the one in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA, in1998 and by the last one in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2001.

The 2005 IWUR Workshop will bring together academic and industrial researchers and developers in the field of Underwater Robotics to discuss and explore the current state of the art in this field, including cutting edge topics in the application of advanced robotic technology for sustainable management of marine ecosystems and environmental monitoring. Particular emphasis will be given to the exploitation of existing robotic platforms for scientific applications at sea, highlighting how advanced robotics research could be driven by effective application problems. Cutting edge research on multi-vehicle coordination and heterogeneous fleet control will be examined with particular attention to international cooperation.

We are proud of these panels, which are designed to advance the mission of the IARP, as approved by the nations participating in the International Advanced Robotics Program: "To encourage the development of advanced robotic systems that can dispense with human work for difficult activities in harsh, demanding or dangerous environments, and to contribute to the revitalization and growth of the world economy". This is a mission which becomes more and more relevant as the years go by.

We are delighted to bring together in Genoa a group of highly qualified Robotics scientists and an outstanding array of keynote speakers, whose oceanic research and operations at sea cover the entire planet: James G. Bellingham, from Monterey, CA, USA; Antonio Pascoal, from Lisbon, Portugal; Vincent Rigaud, from Toulon, France; Tamaki Ura, from Tokyo, Japan; Dana Yoerger, from Woods Hole, MA, USA. They are living proof that oceans do not have borders.

The Workshop will be located in the heart of Genoa, a port city with age-old maritime traditions. The Old Harbour of Genoa, once the cradle of this ancient and lionhearted Maritime Republic, has been totally renovated, and offers a spectacular landscape of surrounding mountains, sea breezes, and the architecture of monumental buildings. Just a few meters from the site of the conference are the Genoa Aquarium, the largest in Europe, and the Museum of Sea and Navigation.

We wish to express our gratitude to IPC and NOC members for their collaboration, assistance and continuous advice; to the Genoa Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Trade for their recognition of the importance of Underwater Robotics in the current scientific and industrial context, as well as for their comprehensive support; and to the City of Genoa for its hospitality.

Gianmarco Veruggio
General Chair