Related Projects

Safety sensor technology for service robots in production logistics and inpatient care

The aim of the project was to develop a sensor that will enable service robots to better detect their environment. To support this goal, existing methods for object, person and action recognition were being further developed. A test scenario was implemented on Care-O-bot 4 in a care home, where the robot is exchanging empty water bottles with full ones.

SOcial Cognitive Robotic Agents in The European Society

SOCRATES addressed research in social robotics and focused on Interaction Quality. Fraunhofer IPA developed variants of the robotic home assistant Care-O-bot 4 allowing to adapt the robot hardware to individual user requirements. The second focus was on activity recognition which could be used by the robot to offer services as needed.

Attention-sensitive assistance robot

Goal of the project was the development of new skills for assistant robots so as to enable them to gauge the attentiveness of their counterparts and if necessary, influence and direct their behavior. The project was implemented using the assistant robot Care-O-Bot 4 on the basis of two practical application scenarios.

Robust perception to interactively support elderly users with handling tasks in domestic environments

The research project developed further skills of service robots such that everyday handling tasks can be carried out safely and interactively. The developed functions were to be used on the robot assistant Care-O-Bot 4 in the application context of bite-sized provision of food.

Modular system for cost-efficient cleaning robots

In the BakeR project service robot technologies for cleaning robots were further developed to drive them towards market readiness. The aim was to build a modular cleaning robot with a mobile platform that detects the cleaning modules automatically and adapts its functionality to them.

Safety Enables Cooperation in Uncertain Robotic Environments

SECURE analyzed how the safety of assistance robots in domestic use could be increased. Within the scope of the research platform Care-O-bot® 4 the scientists of Fraunhofer IPA worked on the topics environment reconstruction and mobile manipulation.

Service Robotics providing support for personal services

The intelligent use of service robotics in elderly care facilities or hospitals could relieve nursing staff from daily routine and physically exhausting tasks and reduce walking distances. In particular, three scenarios should be realized: an intelligent care cart that navigates autonomously to the usage site and documents automatically the use of care utensils, a multifunctional person lifter with assistive functions as well as a service assistant, which provides drinks and snacks to inhabitants and patients. A first implementation of the care cart was based on the Care-O-bot®-4-platform.

The Productive Robot Apprentice

The goal of this project was to develop a mobile two-arm assistance system for automation of manual production processes in a manufacturing environment. The PRACE concept basically relied on robot learning by demonstration. The project demonstrator was based on the rob@work 3 platform.

The ACCOMPANY system consists of a robotic companion as part of an intelligent environment, providing services to elderly users in a motivating and socially acceptable manner to facilitate independent living at home. Care-O-bot 3 was used as application platform. User studies were included to advance further development of the robot in line with user requirements.

The goal of the project was to provide european industry with new leading-edge innovation that will enable the production of advanced robust and safe cognitive, reasoning autonomous and co-operative robotic systems at reduced cost. Fraunhofer IPA focused on the development of key technologies for assistance systems, specifically Care-O-bot 3. Technologies and components like for example robust perception and collision free manipulation were developed.

Plug and Play for Automation Systems

Target of the AutoPnP project was the development of a standardized software architecture allowing dynamic integration of different hardware and software components. This infrastructure should enhance the simple and efficient programming and adaptation of complex systems in dynamic application fields. Care-O-bot 3 applied to an office cleaning scenario is one of the demonstrators.

Multi-Role Shadow Robotic System for Independent Living

The SRS project focused on the development and prototyping of a remotely-controlled, semi-autonomous service robot to support elderly people in domestic environments. The implementation was based on Care-O-bot 3. By remote controlling the robot, the users, e.g. the children or relatives of an elderly person, can provide active support, for example with fetch and carry tasks.

Interactive Mobile Manipulators for Advanced Industrial Diagnostics

The main goal of InterAID was to demonstrate the feasibility of applying mobile robots with manipulation capabilities to advanced diagnosis and quality control in industrial environments. The application environment was the reliability lab of a white goods factory producing washing machines. The mobile robot was equipped with an arm and a gripper as well as several 3D sensors for observing the environment and had to solve different tasks. The task of Fraunhofer IPA was the development of suitable algorithms for 3D environment perception and collision-free arm motion.