As with the advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) for vehicles, we empower impaired individuals by giving them tools to benefit from an advanced personalised experience while keeping control over their mobility devices to navigate complex environments. 
We will demonstrate Robotics wheelchairs and Healthcare Monitoring Systems. Following the health status of the person onboard: physical activity level, social behaviours, and environmental factors all together for a future where we can continuously and unobtrusively track the health status continuously and unobtrusively. 

Website: https://scai.ethz.ch 

When it comes to inspecting and monitoring their power infrastructure, companies need a solution that’s quick, thorough, low-cost, and, most importantly, safe. While the work was done manually in the past, more recently, companies have moved towards using fixed-wing drones or multicopters. Copters are highly precise but have a very limited range and need regular charging. On the other end of the spectrum, fixed-wing drones can travel a long way but don’t allow close inspection because of how they’re built. Elythor’s pioneering drone technology combines the best of both systems, creating a low-cost, high-precision option for energy infrastructure inspection.

Elythor’s technology combines the precision of multicopters and the durability of fixed-wing drones with inflight shapeshifting to create an agile, accurate, and robust robot. Our drone can conduct inspections in confined and complex spaces and travel the long distances required for power infrastructure. With Elythor, power infrastructure managers can benefit from up to a 40% reduction in cost and up to a 35% reduction in the time their inspectors spend out in the field.

In this view, patients could learn how to use the therapy platform in the clinic with progressively less supervision, and continue to use it independently at home. HandyBot and ReHandyBot allow the training of the same degree of freedom (DOF), plus an additional DOF for wrist flexion-extension in the case of HandyBot. The two devices are currently undergoing usability evaluations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC8XhVHVcKA&ab_channel=RELabETHZ

The technology is a key enabler for the mass-market adoption of autonomous solutions. Fixposition provides “Precise Global Position Everywhere” More at www.fixposition.com.

Company video: https://youtu.be/SJK3dQG5ZN0?si=KNaWZxzUI50nSJJi 

Website: www.fixposition.com 

Product page: https://www.fixposition.com/pages/our-product 

Solution: Vision-RTK 2 – combining computer vision techniques and satellite navigation to deliver accuracy in open fields and in GNSS-challenging environments. The technology is a key enabler for the mass-market adoption of autonomous solutions.

Industry applications: All forms of autonomous solutions including: 

• Autonomous shuttles.
• Small/medium-sized robots used for delivery, patrolling, rescue, and cleaning.
• Robot lawnmowers.
• Agricultural robots such as tractors, harvesters, planters, and sprayers.
• Small high-volume agricultural robots.

Customer testimonial: https://youtube.com/shorts/d0z0GVDuwek?si=MzHHgFvS9-nIdjNG 

Performance video: https://youtu.be/XrSRCy95stA?si=x1QGQANtiU6jhUK7 

On the one hand, an innovation park is being created on more than 70 hectares at the Dübendorf airfield, and on the other hand, the Division of Business and Economic Development of the Canton of Zurich is offering various consulting services for SMEs and startups. And hey, we will be live on site and leave our robot avatars in the basement.

 Discover how our robotic solutions efficiently store and distribute clean energy, revolutionizing the way we power our world. Our innovative technology ensures seamless renewable energy distribution for electric vehicles and other energy demanding applications. Learn how our robotic systems work autonomously to deliver sustainable energy, adapt to evolving environmental conditions, and optimize energy usage. Experience firsthand how our solutions pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future. We’re excited to showcase our robotic energy storage and distribution platform and discuss how it can benefit various industries, including EV charging and beyond. We’re not just showcasing a product; we’re open for collaboration. Connect with us to explore exciting partnership opportunities. Whether you’re from the world of research, development, manufacturing, or simply interested in the future of electric mobility, we’re eager to discuss how we can shape the future together.

It all starts with a digital model. Within the process, plastic powder gets exposed by laserlight. Like this, we melt the plastic layer by layer until we get full body plastic parts. But let us check out the SLS-technology and the single steps in detail – starting with data preparation until the finish and final testing of the parts

Unifying a workforce of autonomous robots

At Auterion, we are dedicated to helping businesses streamline operations and stay ahead of the competition. We provide the cutting-edge technology that powers, connects and controls autonomous robotics systems that can take on repetitive, precise, or dangerous tasks.

Whether implementing autonomous delivery vehicles to establish new delivery services, deploying autonomous inspection systems to facilitate new maintenance processes, or reallocating human labor to more high-value tasks, we help our customers maximize the use of autonomous systems.

Largest network of autonomous robots

We unify a workforce of autonomous systems that are connected to the same network and work together seamlessly.

Benefit from the same end-to-end experience and workflows with any robotics system, whether it is a multirotor, fixed-wing, VTOL or unmanned ground vehicle.

Nominated by the US Government as the standard for its future drone program

This initiative is organized by ITU in partnership with 40 UN sister agencies and co-convened with Switzerland. Learn how the UN is leveraging AI and robotics for sustainable development. Get involved in innovation challenges at the Robotics for Good Innovation Factory and pitch your robotics solutions for the global good. Visit our exhibition booth at Swiss Robotics Day to chat with representatives showcasing innovative approaches from across the UN to advance the SDGs.

State-of-the-art sensor technologies and robotics algorithms

KEMARO AG is the world’s leading robotics company in the field of autonomous, industrial dry cleaning. It was founded by three Swiss engineers in 2016 and today employs 40 people.

The development team is constantly working on perfecting the performance of the K900, and through ongoing development, are continuously expanding its application possibilities. Combined with the most advanced 3D sensors, the K900 navigates through complex spaces and cleans industrial halls up to 20,000 m2 – with minimal human interaction. 

Companies around the world are now benefiting from the efficiency and precision of the K900, also protecting their employees and intralogistics machinery from fine dust pollution. Innovation will continue to be an important pillar for KEMARO AG to stay at the forefront.

Wearable robotic hand exoskeleton intuitively controlled by a non-invasive brain interface (surface-Electromyography (sEMG)).

Largely our projects can be associated to four (or a combinations of) directions.

Soft body-fluid interactions: To understand and leverage the complex behaviour of the robot-fluid interactions, through novel robot design, experimentation, modelling, and optimisation.

Robots in nature/sustainability: Designing and modelling robots to mimic/understand biology (plants) / Designing robots to be deployed in the wild.

Robot ‘Scientist’: How can we use robots to explore scientific questions / How can robots be used most effectively for lab automation.

Robotic manipulation: Novel design and fabrication of robotic manipulators with a focus on the mechanics and distributed sensing. Understanding how the body of the manipulator can be leveraged to simplify control.

Get to know the Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems (CLS). Learn about this international partnership between the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Tübingen and Stuttgart, Germany, and ETH Zurich, Switzerland. CLS is a joint academic program between ETH Zurich and the Max Planck Society. Through our platform for exchange in research and education, we aim to address cross-disciplinary questions in the design and analysis of natural and man-made learning systems.

Since launching in 2015, CLS has generated over 300 publications including over 60 papers authored jointly by Max Planck and ETH researchers. The cooperation spans all levels, from leading experts at the senior scientist level to junior scientists obtaining their Ph.D.

The call for applications to join our CLS doctoral fellowship program in 2024 is open. Ph.D. students profit from joint supervision by ETH Professors and MPI Directors and Group Leaders, ultimately obtaining their doctoral degree from ETH Zurich. The coordination team and CLS doctoral researchers are waiting to tell you more.

Our Group stands out in the marketplace with a unique spectrum of interdisciplinary skills in engineering and business consulting. Our service offering ranges from innovation, technology and product development to strategy, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, to information technology, real estate, energy and infrastructure.

Autonomyo will be showcasing its full rehabilitation platform for neurological patients.
It includes a set of training games connected to an active lower limb exoskeleton to provide therapy anywhere with a maximum of intensity.

Our portfolio includes knowledge in mechatronics, mechanical design, micro machining, robotics, control, and real-time data processing. Due to our expertise, we maintain also strong collaborations in the fields of robot-assisted gait and arm rehabilitation. 

In robotic surgery, we are developing an entire surgical platform that will consist of several highly dedicated subsystems like a positioning and stabilization mechanism at the tip of the robotic endoscope, a flexible robotic endoscope for single port surgery,  new technologies in force sensing for endoscopes, an intuitive telemanipulation interface, a highly integrated optics and spray system for endoscopic laser surgery. To achieve repeatable high precision cuts even in minimally invasive procedures, our patented endoscope-tip attaches to the target tissue and decouples mechanically from the endoscope. Thus, if the patient moves or if the surgeon touches the surgery robot, disturbances will not be transferred to the endoscope tip.

The cuts will be performed in a semi-autonomous procedure, where the robotic endoscope tip moves the laser along pre-planned trajectories while the surgeon surveys the cutting process and has the possibility to intervene at any time. To cover a large workspace inside the body, the endoscope tip can attach and detach single legs to “walk” along the target tissue to reach a new area of operation. In collaboration with surgeons, we investigate novel intuitive teleoperation interfaces that allow us to establish a new minimally invasive approach for laserosteotomy. A first application for the laser osteotome will be unikondylar knee arthroplasty. Future approaches for other orthopedic applications as well as spine surgery, and neurosurgical interventions are planned.

At Astrobots, we design micro-SCARA robots used for astrophysics observation. Those stargazing devices collect the light from millions of celestial objects to create (among others) a 3D map of the Universe.

You will have the opportunity to dig deep into the robotic challenges they present:

– How 500 robots can operate smoothly in a telescope ?

– Which specific design/control choices you have to make ?

– What is the resulting 3D map that you get in the end ?

While existing robotic hand prostheses have made notable advancements, they still have limitations in fully restoring sensory and motor abilities. Here, we will showcase two ongoing projects that focus on providing prosthetic users with a greater control of their robotic hand and the thermal perception of the object they are touching. The control of commercial prosthetic hands currently relies on sensing the contraction level of a few muscles in the residual limb. While this approach has demonstrated robustness, it limits the user to execute only basic grasping movements. To overcome this, our first project explores the possibility of utilizing a larger number of sensors and leveraging machine learning algorithms to decode the precise position of each individual finger. In our second project, we aim at building prosthetic devices that feel like a biological hand. In a recent study, we discovered that amputee individuals were able to perceive warm and cold sensations on their phantom hand by stimulating specific spots on their residual arm. We developed a prosthetic solution that can be integrated on current prostheses to restore thermal feedback.

• Lower limb exoskeletons: – eWalk – the e-bike for walking – autonomyo – for more autonomy of people with neuromuscular disorders • Endovascular robotics: TREX – the device with which we investigate how to improve the treatment of ischemic stroke

• Electrical stimulation: functional electrical stimulation of muscles (FES) and transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) and

• an Entrepreneurial project MyJoint – wearable technology to assist coaches and medical staff in sports clubs by providing a quantitative knee injury risk score

Adaptation is the adjustment of organisms to their environment to improve their chances of survival. The focus of adaptive technology is to promote human autonomy, not the opposite. We need the technology to assist, complement, and facilitate our changing needs in our dynamic world.
This exhibition highlights adaptive reconfigurable robots. Their system-level intelligence characterizes them through unconventional system designs and control, novel material components, and advanced manufacturing methodologies.
The robot demonstrations exemplify the current, augmented, and near-future scenarios involving consistent fundamental technologies.
Current
We digitize and transfer tactile experience to facilitate complex, repetitive, and delicate tasks. Applications in rehabilitation, healthcare, and industrial production advance performance.
Augmented
Some tasks are impossible to realize physically due to the location, timing, and current mechanical capacity. Having an extra helping hand or physically immersive controller enables users to manipulate, meet, communicate, and experience without traveling.
Beyond
Modular robots update and reconfigure their forms and functions allowing us to invent new shapes and interactions within known and unknown worlds i.e., foreign topology, dissimilar law of physics, outer space, and the metaverse.

Intelec AI automates visual inspections in manufacturing. We build custom solutions for our customers. Our solutions cut the inspection cost and increase the inspection coverage by partially or fully automating the visual inspection process.

We provide automation at both hardware and software level. Our solutions consist of 3 parts:

1. automation & standardization of image acquisition
2. automated image analysis (defect detection, feature extraction)
3. admin panel and dashboards

We also build inspection instruments, which are customizable, at software and hardware level, for different use cases. This allows our customers to test the instrument before buying, which decreases the investment risk and streamlines the purchasing process.

Coming from the collaboration of research labs at the ETH Zurich and industry experts, we are developing autonomous robots that are redefining the construction sector. Our novel 3D plaster printing technique merged with state of the art robotic controller will change surface finishing tasks driving the industry towards more efficient, sustainable, and safer construction process. As the construction industry is ripe for innovation, LAYERƎD is leading the change, ensuring that the future of building is not only more efficient but also more humane. Dive into a world where robot and human collaborate and be part of the future of construction with us.

Demo Showcase: From Surface Scanning to Fluid Trajectories

Experience the future of construction robotics with our interactive demo! You will have the opportunity to control a mobile robotic system using a controller, guiding it to complete tasks. Witness the robot’s ability to scan surfaces and create a digital model of its environment, visualize the results on the controller to generate the trajectory and finally execute the task! The highlight? Watch the robot’s arm and base work in perfect harmony, executing fluid trajectories.
Come meet with us and try our technology at the Swiss Robotics Day 2023!

Our bio-inspired intelligent technology offers unprecedented advantages over conventional machine vision systems: ultra-low response latency, low data rates, high dynamic range, and ultra-low power consumption.

Founded by the inventors of event-based vision, iniVation combines decades of world-leading R&D experience with the world’s largest community of customers and partners across multiple industrial markets. Our customers include global top-10 companies in automotive, consumer electronics and aerospace. Our technology is now in use at over 700 organizations in over 40 countries worldwide. We created the first neuromorphic systems to be used in space, and also the first to be used in Antarctica.

We are available for you at our locations in Zurich, Bern and Baden.

With more than 11,000 standard components SCHUNK offers the world’s largest assortment of gripping systems and clamping technology from one source. Due to the digitalization of the portfolio, users can plan their processes efficiently, transparently, and economically. In addition, they benefit from the comprehensive application knowledge surrounding tomorrow’s innovative manufacturing.

schunk.com

Our unique combination of learning-​based automation and augmented remote control lets one operator safely conduct a fleet of machines in a gamified environment. Visit us at our booth to see our autonomous excavators in action building a wall or excavating soil. The sensor and compute box turning an off-the-shelf machine into an intelligent robot is also exhibited.

Home

Autonomous robotic inspection solutions Our ANYmal robotic solutions automate industrial inspections. They provide operator insights that increase plant uptime, reduce costs, and improve safety by removing workers from hazardous areas.

Witness the journey of a microcatheter that can reach capillaries inside our brains, explore how sound waves can move tiny objects in air, and meet a robotic microsurgeon that makes scientific discoveries by operating on living tissues and embryos.

https://www.epfl.ch/labs/microbs/

In this quest, we define Computational Robotics as the fusion of simulation, algorithms and data. In brief, we formalize advanced simulation models to provide robots with an innate understanding of the laws of physics. Leveraging these models, we devise practical algorithms for motion planning, motion control and computational design problems. Whenever possible, we exploit data to efficiently learn solution spaces, to create faithful digital twins through real-to-sim methodologies, and to enable humans to teach robots new skills.

We are grateful for past and present sponsorship from Intel, Microsoft, Swiss Post, Hilti, Disney Research, BOBST, the SNF and the European Research Council.

The Computational Robotics Lab (CRL) is a research group within the Department of Computer Science at ETH Zurich. CRL is led by Prof. Dr. Stelian Coros.

TorosFastForward

It develops instruments and technologies to automate processes and analyses in industry and life sciences. With the help of a systematic development process, ILT supports the planning and implementation of complex processes that meet the increasing demands of industry. 

ILT has expertise in developing vision-based solutions to improve quality control and process reliability. This relies on smart robotics technologies that combine the integration of vision, machine learning and robotics. 

ILT has access to a high-quality infrastructure in the following areas: Industrial Robotics & Automation, Collaborative Robotics, Mobile Robotics, Autonomous Systems, Sensor and Safety Technology, and Machine Vision.

These competitions gather 4 main tasks to achieve: A Science task instructs the Rover to collect soil samples, and analyze those in-situ in the scope of a biological/geological science plan formerly defined by students. An Equipment Servicing task assesses the agility of the Rover’s robotic arm, which shall quickly manipulate small objects. An Autonomous Navigation task qualifies the ability of the Rover to drive autonomously from one location to another and overcome the complexity of a rugged desertic terrain. And finally, a Retrieval and Delivery task requires the Rover to collect a cache and deliver it to a given location.

Every year there are 9000 occupational fall accidents in Switzerland, 22 of which result in death. On average, each accident costs 26’000CHF, five times what other work-related accidents cost. AITHON’s vision is to revolutionize work at height. The flying robot could reduce human work at dangerous heights and lower the number of accidents in Switzerland and around the world.

As proof that in particular strength-sapping work off the ground can be performed by robots, AITHON has developed a quadcopter that can drill precise holes in vertical concrete walls.

See project here: https://aithon.ethz.ch/focus-project-aithon/

AITHON was supervised by the Autonomous Systems Lab (ASL) at ETH Zurich and Prof. Dr. Siegwart.

The Autonomous Systems Lab’s research focuses on research into intelligent systems that are able to autonomously operate and interact with complex and diverse environments. This includes ground-based mobile manipulation platforms, over-actuated micro aerial vehicles, and transforming fixed-wing platforms.

Bota Systems is a developer and manufacturer of multi-axis force-torque sensors, torque sensors, and custom sensors for robotic applications. As a spin-off of ETH Robotic Systems Lab, Bota Systems is based in Zurich, Switzerland. Its sensors give robots the sense of touch, and the company’s vision is for robots to work and move safely, and as naturally and freely as humans. Bota Systems’ team of accomplished robotic, software, and mechanical engineers continually develops highly integrated and advanced sensors to support a wide range of applications, across both research and industry. We are diligent about providing the best force-torque sensing solutions and user care experience.
See www.botasys.com
At the Swiss Robotics Day, Bota Systems will present its latest innovation the MiniONE Pro —an exceptionally sensitive and compact six-axis force-torque sensor. Designed with precision and versatility in mind, this sensor is ideal for applications that require haptic feedback from a compact system. With this sensor we will present applications like product testing or product assembly. Bota Systems also will present a Universal Robot with a Bota System Sensor Kit, a highly sensitive six-axis force-torque sensor that is certified by Universal Robotics and added as a trusted partner to the UR+ ecosystem for use with their collaborative robots. With this robot, we will present various applications like polishing or hand guidance.

Our research teams are focused on work in cognitive intelligence, dexterity, and mobility, as well as the ethics and societal impact of robotics and AI. Our goal is to make robots smarter by working at the intersection of those research areas.

CERN will be showing some of our mobile robotic systems equipped with many sensors and arms regularly used in the accelerator for inspection, maintenance and repair. You can also come and try our mixed reality novel user interface to control the robot yourself.

Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) is the coordinator of the project Acroba. The project targets small and medium sized enterprises who deal with high mix low volume production and offers a software platform for no code programming of robots. The platform is built on top of ROS. It empowers robots with “skills” and thereby gives the operator on one side the possibility to program the robot through an intuitive GUI and on the other hand the platform also features a task planner working with PDDL (planning domain definition language).

Long: Recent advancements in machine learning offer new opportunities for the design of high performance controllers for many safety critical applications. At the same time, the use of learning in closed-​loop control systems raises a number of challenges related to their safety and reliability, but also real-​time computation requirements and data-​efficiency. In the ICS group, we develop the theory, methods and tools for advanced control and state estimation with guaranteed satisfaction of critical safety constraints, and demonstrate their benefits in a range of applications. In this exhibition, you will be able to see model predictive controllers in action on a miniature race car platform. 

https://idsc.ethz.ch/research-zeilinger.html

We showcase two of the group’s various research directions, ergodic control and geometric algebra.

Ergodic control provides an approach to explore a region specified as a probability distribution. We will showcase diverse use cases of ergodic control using robot manipulators, including whole-body exploration, insertion tasks, and artistic portrait drawing.

Numerous problems in robotics are fundamentally problems of geometry. Geometric algebra is a unification and generalization of various popular formalisms. We demonstrate its capabilities in modeling robot single and dual arm manipulation tasks and provide a software stack for efficient computation.

Bimanual dynamic depalletizing: fast grabbing and tossing of objects

– Bimanual grabbing and tossing of packages onto trays or conveyor belts remains a human activity in the industry. For robots, such a dynamic task requires coordination between two arms and fast adaptation abilities when the tossing target is moving and subject to perturbations. 

We have developed a control framework that enables a bimanual robotic system to grab and toss objects onto a moving target. We will demonstrate this framework on two 7-DoF robotic arms. This demonstration will showcase the accuracy and robustness of the proposed approach. We also show its speed and energy advantages when compared to the traditional pick-and-place strategy.

 Single-arm dexterous throwing

– In robotic throwing, the release phase involves complex dynamic interactions due to object deformation and limited gripper opening speed, often resulting in inaccurate and non repeatable throws. We will demonstrate a throwing method that is robust against release uncertainty. Results show that the approach offers run-time performance to allow online computation of throws on a 7-DoF robot arm. It achieves high accuracy and success rate at throwing a variety of complex objects, even when using a simple ballistic model for the object’s flying dynamics.

 Four-Handed Human Robot Manipulation for Laparoscopic Surgery

– This study tackles the design of a 4-arms manipulation system with application to laparoscopic surgery. Currently, this task is performed by at least two medical staff: the surgeon and one assistant who is manipulating the endoscope and the retractor. The envisioned 4-arms system would enable surgeons to control all four instruments alone with their biological hands and feet. The feet control two robotic arms acting as assistants during an operation. This may increase synchrony in the movements and avoid ambiguity arising from miscommunication.

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/ielx7/100/9891746/9787984/supp1-3177355.mp4?arnumber=9787984 

https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0921889023001203-mmc1.mp4

To ensure safe and efficient operation, the infrastructure used for generating renewable energies needs to be inspected regularly. This poses a major challenge in hydroelectric power generation and storage as assets such as turbines and penstocks are under water and cannot be accessed by humans. Schuck Consulting has developed and will showcase robotic systems for the safe and rapid inspection of submerged structures, namely:
Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV)

A drone boat that uses GPS-based waypoint navigation and sonar sensors to autonomously conduct bathymetric surveys of lakes and rivers near hydropower plants.

Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)

Equipped with cameras and 360° echosounders, this robot can reach depths of 300 m and beyond to perform inspections and service tasks in places that cannot be reached by divers.

This multi-modal data is crucial for downstream tasks such as ML model training, debugging, and performance monitoring. Despite accumulating large volumes of such data, many organizations lack the specialized infrastructure for efficient processing. This gap often compels engineers to write custom data extraction scripts and create ad hoc pipelines, leading to technical debt. Drawing on a decade of robotics development at Amazon, we will introduce a scalable framework for streamlined data ingestion, post-processing, and visualization, allowing engineers to concentrate on algorithms and hardware development rather than infrastructure setup.

Human entry is dangerous in disaster relief and industrial inspection while existing solutions struggle in winding, cluttered, sharp, or slippery environments. RoBoa overcomes these limitations. Our cutting-edge, snake-like robot employs growing-based locomotion to go where no humans or other robots can go. With remarkable maneuverability, it autonomously senses its surroundings and supplies liquids. Our robotic innovation will transform disaster relief efforts to save lives and the inspection of pipes, sewers, and tanks.

MathWorks

MathWorks is the leading developer of mathematical computing software. MATLAB, the language of engineers and scientists, is a programming environment for algorithm development, data analysis, visualization, and numeric computation. Simulink is a block diagram environment for simulation and Model-Based Design of multidomain and embedded engineering systems. Engineers and scientists worldwide rely on these products to accelerate the pace of discovery, innovation, and development in automotive, aerospace, communications, electronics, industrial automation, and other industries. MATLAB and Simulink are fundamental teaching and research tools in the world’s top universities and learning institutions. Founded in 1984, MathWorks employs more than 6,000 people in 34 offices around the world, with headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, USA. For additional information, visit www.mathworks.com.

Kyburz

Autonomous Vehicle Demonstration
Kyburz has been developing autonomous versions of its trusted delivery vehicles since 2017. At this point two customer projects have been successfully completed, and several more are in the pipeline. Our priorities are safe and reliable outdoor operation in all weather conditions, as well as providing the customer with the flexibility to manager their own robots operation. We will show an example of this approach, and describe the technology used to realize it.

Accelerating Autonomous Systems Development with Model-Based Design and Game Engines
With Model-Based Design, virtual models are at the center of your development process to improve how you deliver complex systems. Adding photo-realistic environments to high-fidelity multi-domain simulations is key in taking virtual models to the next level, enabling you to iterate autonomous algorithms faster and catch any issues early on. We will showcase how MATLAB and Simulink can be co-simulated with game engines like Unreal or Unity to create digital twins of your autonomous ground, aerial and (under) water vehicles, and how you can leverage model-based design to go from idea to industrialization.

Kyburz Autonomous Vehicle Demo:
https://youtu.be/UAKIZoWDhh0 / https://youtu.be/gAkNrBKPRB4
https://kyburz-switzerland.ch/en/concept_vehicles/PLUS2_autonomous

We are putting data to work to boost efficiency, productivity, quality and safety across industrial, manufacturing, infrastructure, public sector, and mobility applications. Our technologies are shaping production and people related ecosystems to become increasingly connected and autonomous – ensuring a scalable, sustainable future. Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 24,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 5.2bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB.

 https://hexagon.com/

 Leica Geosystems – when it has to be right. With more than 200 years of history, Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, is the trusted supplier of premium sensors, software and services. Delivering value every day to professionals in surveying, construction, infrastructure, mining, mapping and other geospatial content-dependent industries, Leica Geosystems leads the industry with innovative solutions to empower our autonomous future.

https://leica-geosystems.com/

At its booth, Euresearch will present information about the European Framework Programme Horizon Europe. Our advisors on site will be happy to answer any question you may have about Swiss participation in Horizon Europe!

Fluidic fiber pumps:
Fluidic actuation is fundamental to much of soft robotics. The use of pneumatic and hydraulic actuators allows high power density actuators to be comfortably integrated into wearable devices. However, these actuators typically depend on large and rigid compressors to provide the pressurized fluid, therefore limiting the wearability of the entire system. In this demo, we present a fluidic pump in the form of a soft and flexible fiber. These fibers can be easily integrated into textiles and provide significant fluid pressures and flowrates, allowing both actuator and pump to be combined into textiles to create mechanically active fabrics, wearable haptics and thermoregulatory clothing. In our booth we will demonstrate the pump, its working principle, and some integrated demonstrations of the technology. 

PopTouch: 

PopTouch creates an array of pressable buttons on touchscreens, allowing clickable buttons to be arbitrarily and dynamically positioned. Each button moves 1 mm out of plane, can hold up to 1.5 N, and has a built‐in click‐through feature for a natural button press sensation. Each button is an independently addressed hydraulically amplified electrostatic zipping actuator. Our demo features a PopTouch interface integrated on a flexible OLED display. The configuration (up/down) of the buttons changes according to options that are displayed. In the interactive portion of the demo, visitors press buttons in 2×2 arrays . After each keypress, the configuration changes and different buttons appear.

The Laboratory of Sustainability Robotics is based on an institutional partnership between Imperial College London (ICL) and the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa). It focuses on the development, demonstration, and commercialisation of life-supportive material-robotics technologies for the benefit of society. Research thrusts include aerial robotics platform development, soft robotics, material science, and digital infrastructure systems. The laboratory is developing novel autonomy solutions, material systems, and robot embodiments that are co-developed in tight integration using the Physical Artificial Intelligence development method. This allows for the creation of life-like robotic organisms that can live as residential systems in natural and man-made environments and perform autonomous sensing, repair, and manufacturing tasks. Exhibition elements include aerial robots for data collection in aquatic and forest ecosystems such as transient robots and sensor launching drones, as well as robotic systems for manufacturing and repair of infrastructure elements.

https://youtu.be/sje50ezhfew?t=174 

Our solution comes with two cameras and Edge AI to automate tomato production:

–   Harvest at optimum conditions (video)

–   Cut leaves to prepare for harvest (video)

The arm can be installed on pipe trolleys or other wheeled robots.

Smart surfaces to optimize space

World population is expected to keep growing drastically in the upcoming decades. Specifically, the urban population, which will double between 2010 and 2050. The pressure on city housing markets is already at an alarming level.

At MIROS Technology, we will use the current existing infrastructure and modify them into adaptive spaces, allowing each person to require less ground space to enjoy the same set of activities they currently have – at home, in the office, or in sport environments. Making the footprint smaller, and therefore more sustainable.

Creating smart and adaptive spaces also allows us to make these artificial environments interactive. It not only replace currently existing spaces but also enhance them – bridging real and virtual worlds, allowing to control computers, machines and to communicate among humans thanks to it.

Nonetheless, at University of Bern’s ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, the translational grit of the journey is its greatest asset.

Presently, through the window of robotics and image-guided navigation, the exhibited system gives an insight into the vitality of interventional oncology state-of-the-art technology. In particular, the system envisions minimally invasive thermal ablation procedure for treatment of liver tumors and targets more intricate clinical cases, in addition to the current standard of care. Whilst the application focus is strictly on clinical affairs, the robotic aspect is indispensable for a smooth functioning. Thereby, you are invited to come take a look and explore your interests.

Aerial Robotics

We’ll highlight our expertise in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) through diverse biologically inspired drones designed to be agile, versatile, and capable of operating in diverse environments. Next to the exhibited drones, visitors are welcome to test their piloting skills in our interactive drone simulators.

Soft Robotics

The lab also investigates smart materials, mechanical design, learning, and control of soft robots that capture the resilience and adaptability of living organisms. Our soft robotic technologies include smart grippers that manipulate objects intuitively, variable stiffness materials, foldable drones, and modular tensegrity robots. One of the standout exhibits will be the outcomes of the RoboFood project, showcasing robots that can be eaten and foods that behave like robots.

Join us at the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems’ booth and explore future avenues of artificial intelligence and robotics at the convergence of biology and engineering, humans and machines.

We are developing an universal block-based programming interface that is both easy-to–use and flexible. We take a user-centered approach and develop our solutions together with technicians and operators.

We will showcase examples in engineering, biology, drug delivery and medicine. Our magnetic field generators and control algorithms enable remote control on the scale of micrometers to meters, allowing us to manipulate magnetic objects within a cell or throughout the human body and everything in between. We will be showcasing our smallest generator, the MFG-100, which can be combined with a microscope to manipulate and characterize objects down to sub-micrometer sizes. We will also display mock-ups of our bigger systems – the OctoMag and the Navion. The OctoMag works in the millimeter range and is used to study and develop engineering and micro-surgical applications. Our largest generator, the MBX-Navion, is used to develop surgical techniques on the human scale to provide simpler, faster and safer minimally invasive interventions with reduced risk. Come by to share the M*A*G*I*C with us!

Booth description:

Try something new! DIY magnetic manipulation with no strings attached!  Tiny structures can be controlled and powered remotely using magnetic fields to achieve otherwise difficult tasks. Here you can drive a microrobot using a hand-held controller as a steering wheel and gas pedal. It’s not just fun – just imagine what you could use it for!  Come to our booth and see for yourself!

Using your hand, of course! Watch our faive robotic hand mimic your movements, or watch the robotic hand learn to play with a ball.

https://youtu.be/D04BbNkEeQY

Voliro leads in aerial mobile robotics with cutting-edge technology designed for precision work at heights. Their advanced aerial robots, featuring a unique tiltable rotor system, excel in contact-based inspections and high-precision close-to-structure tasks. The unique 360° drone design allows precise interaction enhancing safety and efficiency.

These sensors offer notable benefits compared to standard cameras, including a high dynamic range, absence of motion blur, and low latency in the order of microseconds. These properties of event cameras make them valuable for applications in computer vision and robotics. Their ability to capture rapid and subtle changes in the environment makes them ideal for tracking fast-moving objects, enabling advanced motion analysis, and facilitating real-time navigation. In robotics, event cameras offer a crucial edge in visual perception tasks, allowing robots to swiftly maneuver in the presence of high speed obstacles.

During the demonstration, attendees will be treated to a live stream from an event camera, allowing them to witness firsthand the power of these features. The showcase will highlight the event camera’s ability to capture fast-moving objects and without any motion artifacts. Moreover, the event camera’s high dynamic range ensures perception of scenes with varying light conditions.This demonstration aims to reveal the potential of event cameras in revolutionizing various industries, paving the way for more sophisticated vision systems in the future.

 Autonomy is advancing at a remarkable pace, with the power to redefine how we travel. At A2RL, we’re convening skilled teams of scientists, coders and developers from around the world and incorporating cutting-edge technologies into racing vehicles, all with the aim of reshaping the future of mobility through extreme sports. On the 28th of April 2024, we will push the boundaries of autonomous vehicles at the iconic Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, featuring super formula racing cars. Our inaugural race day offers a glimpse into the future of AI, a thrilling mix of virtual and real-life experiences, and an introduction into a new era of extreme sports entertainment. While we begin with autonomous race cars, our vision extends beyond, as we plan to delve into the realms of autonomous drones and dune buggies, exploring their capabilities and limits. www.a2rl.io

Sevensense solves complex automation challenges for its clients in the fields of logistics and service robotics. The Sevensense technology radically simplifies and accelerates their development efforts, as it can easily be installed on any kind of ground vehicle, transforming them into smart robots.

Sevensense envisions a world in which repetitive, dangerous, and unhygienic jobs in factories, warehouses, and public spaces will be carried out by robots equipped with their technology. Sevensense is a spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich.

The Sevensense technology has been internationally acclaimed: recognized in 2021 with the ABB Robotics Innovation Challenge, in 2022 with the Swiss Technology Award, and in 2023 with the Swiss Logistics Award.

With a large focus on robots with arms and legs, our research includes novel actuation methods for advanced dynamic interaction, innovative designs for increased system mobility and versatility, and new control and optimization algorithms for locomotion and manipulation. In search of clever solutions, we take inspiration from humans and animals with the goal of improving the skills and autonomy of complex robotic systems to make them applicable in various real-world scenarios.

Demo 1: Teleoperation for Remote Maintenance Jobs

Robot telemanipulation is a group of technologies that enable humans to control robotic arms and mobile platforms from a safe distance. This allows for the maintenance of equipment or the safe manipulation of hazardous objects or materials in hostile environments, empowering operators to perform unwanted or dangerous tasks remotely.

Demo 2: Magnetic Climbing Robot

The magnetic climbing robot “magnecko” can move on ferrous vertical structures and overhangs. This capability will enable novel robotic inspection techniques.

Demo 3: ANYmal on Wheels

Being able to use both wheels and legs helps robots efficiently adapt to different situations, trading the ability to traverse rough terrain for speed, and likely outperforming wheeled mobile delivery robots or quadrupeds.

Demo 4: High-Fidelity Consistent Mapping

 Robust and Semantically-informed mapping is a prerequisite for robust and advanced autonomous deployments. In combination with smart navigation algorithms these tools provide the necessary skills for robots to operate autonomously.

Demo 5: Small Scale Quadruped Robot

Minimal, an easy to handle and safe small scale low cost quadruped robot which shows robust locomotion skills.

Electric drive systems have a major impact on our everyday lives and mobility. More and more people are using e-bikes or e-scooters for commuting and in their free time. Whether on the road, in the logistics sector or under water – maxon mechatronic systems ensure movement reliably and efficiently.

Our systems consisting of motors, gearboxes, sensors, batteries and controls form the basis for implementing complex applications. In order to meet the high requirements of our customers, all components are perfectly coordinated by maxon specialists. Flexibility, efficiency and quality are always at the forefront when developing our market-driven system solutions from a single source.

Our experts will advise you in the following areas

• Automotive
• Electromobility
• Logistics and robotics
• Maritime applications

Benefit from our expertise

• Drive solutions from a single source with great dynamics, high power density and excellent efficiency
• Drive systems and mechatronic modules adapted to customer requirements
• Programmable controls with application software developed for the customer
• Production locations in Europe, Asia and USA
• Worldwide support and service from the maxon group
• Apps for mobile devices including cloud connection

We invite you to our booth at the Swiss Robotics Day to examine our latest achievement – a legged robot designed for ferrous obstacle climbing using magnet adhesion. This advanced machine showcases versatile capabilities, including walking on the ground, climbing walls and ceilings, as well as transitioning in between them. Join us for live demonstrations of the robot’s functionality, highlighting its adaptability and climbing skills. Our vision is to develop an autonomous inspection robot by enhancing magnecko‘s climbing skills for more challenging terrains. We plan to implement various sensors and attachments in the robot’s design to reduce inspection costs and minimize risks for human workers. This innovative approach promises to revolutionize the field of inspections and maintenance. We look forward to your visit at the conference, where you can engage with our team and explore this cutting-edge development in the field of robotics.

Together, we participate in the annual RoboCup competition in the Standard Platform League. Our goal is to program robots that can compete in a 7-vs-7 soccer game against other teams.

Our tasks involve the development of motion control functions to teach the robots autonomous movements such as walking, kicking, passing, and goalkeeper actions. We also focus on perception, which involves how the robots can perceive their environment using various sensors. This includes the detection of other robots and the ball.

https://robocup.ethz.ch/

The goal of this cross-​departmental initiative of MAVT, ITET, INFK, USYS, MATL, ARCH, BAUG, and HEST is to develop the strong competences of ETH in robotics into a joint research and educational platform. RobotX will be located in the historical ML hall in the main campus of ETH providing large research and educational facilities.RobotX offers hands-​on robot classes, annual summer school and symposia, joint research programs with industry, and additional outreach programs to educate and host people from outside the ETH domain.

Innovation Booster Robotics is a program powered by the Swiss Innovation Agency, Innosuisse and hosted at EPFL. It promotes knowledge transfer and encourages co-operation with partners along the entire value chain of robotics.