Workshop on “Soft objects robotic manipulation for the future of European factories” at the European Robotics Forum 2021
On April 13 at 11:20 (CET), four Horizon 2020 projects will present their solutions to the technical and scientific challenges of robotic manipulation of soft and deformable objects at the ERF. To illustrate specific examples, MERGING will talk about their approach for the textile industry, APRIL will present a use case regarding the handling of food items, REMODEL will discuss the challenges presented by soft materials in the electronics industry, and SOFTMANBOT will introduce us to their solutions for the toy-manufacturing industry. The workshop aims to increase awareness of the importance of developing solutions for handling soft materials, to inform about the main challenges and approaches involved, and the economic and societal impacts of those solutions on European industry. After the talks, the audience is invited to discuss these questions and more with the presenters.
Click here for the program of the event.
Register for the event here.
Agenda of our workshop:
1 – The Factories of the Future (5’)
Welcome and introduction from a Project Officer of the European Commission or a representative from EFFRA – European Factories of the Future Research Association
2- Robotic manipulation for the textile industry: the MERGING project (15’)
Dionisis Andronas, project technical manager of MERGING
Current industrial situation – needs and specificity of a robotic cell in this use-case – technological challenges and proposed approach – elements that can be applied to other cases.
3- Robotic manipulation for the food industry: the APRIL project (15’)
Xenia Beltran, project coordinator of APRIL
Current industrial situation – needs and specificity of a robotic cell in this use-case – technological challenges and proposed approach – elements that can be applied to other cases.
4- Robotic manipulation for the electric industry: the REMODEL project (15’)
Gianluca Palli, project coordinator of REMODEL
Current industrial situation – needs and specificity of a robotic cell in this use-case – technological challenges and proposed approach – elements that can be applied to other cases.
5 – Robotic manipulation for the toy industry: the SOFTMANBOT project (15’) Juan Antonio Corrales Ramón, project technical manager of SOFTMANBOT
Current industrial situation – needs and specificity of a robotic cell in this use-case – technological challenges and proposed approach – elements that can be applied to other cases.
6- Final roundtable: (25’)
Moderators: Leonard Engels (Dissemination manager, APRIL project) and Nicola Nosengo (Dissemination manager, MERGING project)
Discussion (including Q&A from the audience) on synergies between the four projects; how the function/place of humans and robots will change in future European factories; possibilities for standardisation.