EUROP/EURON- Technology Transfer Award 2011

Transcription

1 eurobotics European Robotics Coordination Action Grant Agreement Number: Instrument: Coordination and Support Action (CSA) EUROP/EURON Martin Haegele Deliverable D3.1.1b Lead contractor for this deliverable: Fraunhofer IPA Due date of deliverable: May 1, 2011 Actual submission date: May, 17, 2011 Dissemination level: Public Revision: 1.0

2 Executive summary The European Robotics Technology Platform (EUROP) and the European Robotics Research Network (EURON) have presented their joint "" in recognition of outstanding achievements in European robot technology. At the European Robotics Forum in Västerås on April 7, 2011 the first prize was awarded to a team headed by Dr. Alin Albu-Schaeffer (DLR) and Dr. Ralf Koeppe (KUKA) for their joint development of the KUKA-DLR Lightweight Robot (LWR). The second prize went to 3B Scientific s SIMone, an extraordinary, interactive robotic birth simulator, developed by TU München, ETH Zurich and 3B Scientific. The other finalists were: Fits.me, an Estonian start-up company which has, jointly with Tallinn University, developed an on-line fitting room for clothing retailers using robotic mannequins, Surgenius, a surgical robot developed by Surgica Robotica and the University of Verona and Workerbot, a human inspired, dual armed robot, created by a collaboration between pi4_robotics and Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology, IPK. Subsequent to the press release that was prepared to report on the event (see next page) the following websites and press articles we published: - (German Ministry of Economy), eurobotics Deliverable D3.1.1b Page 2 of 5

3 Press Release Contact Phone: Dates Sarah Cockburn-Price April 28 th, 2011 EU Roboticists Vote for KUKA Lightweight Robot in AT THE European Robotics Forum held earlier this month in Västerås, Sweden, 340 robotic specialists were presented with the finalists of the 2011 eurobotics Technology Transfer Award. The award, now in its eighth year, has become the most prestigious award in the European robotics community. The jury was looking for a unique collaboration between research and industrial partners leading to outstanding innovation with proven potential for significant economic impact. Martin Hägele, a jury member and head of the Department of Robot Systems at Fraunhofer IPA, commented: The judges awarded the first prize to the Lightweight Robot developed by KUKA and DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics because, being developed over more than a decade, it is mature technology that could open up numerous robotic applications in our daily life, such as in manufacturing, services and medicine. From the outset, the KUKA-DLR Lightweight Robot (LWR) was developed to imitate a human arm s dexterity, sensing and strength. Simultaneously it is also less dangerous and easier to program than existing robots, making it ideal for tasks which require close human-robot interaction. The LWR is more portable and energy-saving than robots with comparable payloads, making it particularly suitable for mobile robot applications. Dr. Alin Albu-Schaeffer (DLR) and Dr. Ralf Koeppe (KUKA) accepted the award, representing the DLR and the KUKA developer teams. Dr. Ralf Koeppe said: We are committed to cooperative working between robots and people, so this means you can touch our robot anywhere and still be safe, thanks to the torque control we ve built into the joints. We ve succeeded in combining safety and force with vision to create a robot capable of learning through demonstration, yet still accurate to just tens of microns. The LWR is the first robot to be rated safe to operate without a protective fence a historic milestone. We believe the world is now our oyster in developing applications for LWR and its variants. Second prize went to 3B Scientific s SIMone, an extraordinary, interactive robotic birth simulator, developed by TU München, ETH Zurich and 3B Scientific. SIMone aims to reduce the number of caesarean sections and incidence of cerebral palsy as a result of incorrect use of forceps and vacuum extraction. At the core of SIMone is a force controlled kinematic structure, which is actuated to rotate the baby realistically as it moves through the birth canal with position and force sensors to record forces and torques applied by the forcesps or vacuum tool. The physiological model incorporates forces generated by friction, elastic tissues, uterine contractions and the user s attempts to extract the baby. 3B Scientific has already sold 50 systems worldwide of this advanced training tool for medical students and doctors. The other finalists in the eurobotics were: Fits.me, an Estonian start-up company which has, jointly with Tallinn University, developed an on-line fitting room eurobotics Deliverable D3.1.1b Page 3 of 5

4 for clothing retailers using robotic mannequins, Surgenius, a surgical robot developed by Surgica Robotica and the University of Verona and Workerbot, a human inspired, dual armed robot, created by a collaboration between pi4_robotics and Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology, IPK. We have never had so many different robotics fields represented in the Technology Transfer session. It shows that robotics technology is penetrating more and more fields and markets, stated Henrik A. Schunk, managing partner of SCHUNK and chairman of EUnited Robotics. The Technology Transfer session was one of the highlights of the European Robotics Forum. Supported by the European Commission through the eurobotics Co-ordination Action, the event attracted delegates from industry and academia, as well as entrepreneurs and public investors, to discuss the latest developments, research challenges and business opportunities for European robotics. The motto of this year`s Forum was "Enabling innovation - from research to products" with the award session featuring five successful examples of research generating real products entering the market. To enhance excellence in applied research and to raise the profile of technology transfer from research to industry, the has been awarded annually since Further Links Jury members Representing industry: Christoffer Apneseth, ABB Robotics Roko Tschakarow, SCHUNK Anne Wendel, EUnited Robotics Representing research and academia: Herman Bruynickx, KU Leuven Martin Hägele, Fraunhofer IPA Jon Agirre Ibarbia, Fatronik-Tecnalia EUnited Robotics, European Robotics Association, was founded in 2004 by major European robot manufacturers. EUnited Robotics serves as a platform for manufacturers, component suppliers, and system integrators of robotics in Europe, creating a network of industry leaders. EUnited Robotics is the robotics industries voice in Europe representing the robot suppliers view on industry issues and R&D policies. The association is also a cooperation platform among all robotics stakeholders from research institutes to national associations and customers. See links: Members: ABB (Sweden), COMAU (Italy), Güdel (Switzerland), ISRA Vision (Germany), KUKA Roboter (Germany), Reis Robotics (Germany), SCHUNK (Germany), Spinea (Slovakia) and SUMITOMO (Germany) Cooperation partners: DLR German Aerospace Centre (Germany), Fraunhofer IPA (Germany), and Technische Universität München (Germany). eurobotics Deliverable D3.1.1b Page 4 of 5

5 Photo of the Finalists of the 2011 EUROP / EURON Photo of the Winner of the 2011 EUROP / EURON eurobotics Deliverable D3.1.1b Page 5 of 5