Robotics and Automation

Collaborative robotics in agri-food companies. The ROCOLA project manages to improve the competitiveness of agri-food companies by incorporating collaborative robotics in their processes. ROCOLA collects existing experiences in collaborative robotics and seeks solutions to specific challenges of the participating companies, designing preliminary configurations and executing pilot tests that demonstrate the feasibility of adopting these technologies by the sector. Eurecat participates in the ROCOLA project through its Robotics and Automation Unit. The project, coordinated by the INNOVI cluster, is participated in by the companies Raventós Codorniu, Baucells Avilés (Balsa) and Laboratorios Lamons, which have the advice of [...]

Study of advanced robotics solutions for the textile sector. The FASHIONAUT project aims to digitise and robotise potential manufacturing processes in the textile industry, opening the door to new automation solutions using the latest market innovations. The main innovations contributed by the project consist of the detection of materials through artificial vision with hyperspectral cameras, the development of an algorithm for the manipulation of flexible materials and the use of artificial vision for the measurement and classification of textile fabrics. The robotisation and automation of production processes in the textile industry, especially in SMEs, is the [...]

Acceleration of systemic changes to create last-mile delivery ecosystems that are economically, ecologically and socially sustainable. The GREEN-LOG project offers Logistics-as-a-Service platforms for interconnected city logistics, automated delivery concepts using autonomous vehicles and delivery droids, cargo-bike-based innovations for sustainable micro-consolidation, and multimodal parcel deliveries integrating public transport network. The GREEN-LOG approach boosts a cutting-edge simulation environment for scenario building combining different solutions to enable the integration of last-mile delivery interventions with the highest possible impact on environmental sustainability and traffic reduction, also considering their financial viability. The solutions are supported by networked city logistics dataspaces that [...]

Enablement of a two-way communication flow with enhanced feedback loops between users and AI, leading to improved human-AI collaboration, mutual learning and reasoning, and thus increased user trust and acceptance. The PEER project focuses on how how to systematically put the user at the centre of the entire AI design, development, deployment, and evaluation pipeline, allowing for truly mixed human-AI initiatives on complex sequential decision-making problems As an interdisciplinary project between social sciences and artificial intelligence, PEER facilitates novel ways of engagement by end-users with AI in the design phase. PEER creates novel AI planning methods [...]

Next generation of battery reverse logistics. The BatteReverse project develops a more efficient and universal method for battery discharge and first diagnosis. BatteReverse improves the safety of Li-ion batteries transportation by developing safety packaging with a monitoring system that can reduce thermal runaway risk. The project also boosts more advanced and precise methods for automated dismantling and sorting of battery components based on a safe and more efficient human-robot collaboration. In addition, BatteReverse develops a more precise and faster Remaining Useful Life assessment of battery modules for second-life applications based on acoustic testing and machine learning [...]

Non-profit regional innovation ecosystem formed by the main agents supporting digitisation in Catalonia. The Digital Innovation Hub of Catalonia (DIH4CAT) connects the main technology infrastructure of the region to accelerate technology transformation towards a more green and digital industry. DIH4CAT is mainly aimed at Catalan technology start-ups, public administrations and SMEs, with a special focus on manufacturing companies and technology providers. Catalonia has a strong industrial base with 35.339 companies (99% SMEs), which represent 18.1% of Spanish industrial enterprises. In 2019, data shows that only 16% of those companies had adopted advanced digital technologies. Besides, Catalonia [...]

Development of digital tools to increase circularity in secondary raw materials. The Plooto project offers a circular and resilient information system (CRIS) to help manufacturers in their ecological, digital and circular transition. The system developed by Plooto enables waste reduction and end-to-end traceability of secondary raw materials through interconnected digital services for real-time decision-making, material and product tracking and certification. This solution is demonstrated in three pilot projects for the recycling of organic waste, composites and permanent magnets from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). WEEE recycling is crucial due to the rise of the electric [...]

Serverless efficient computing in extremely diverse computing environments, from edge devices with limited resources to highly virtualised cloud platforms. EDGELESS makes use of the "serverless" concept in all layers of the edge-cloud continuum to fully benefit from the diverse and decentralised computational resources available on-demand close to where data is produced or consumed. In particular, the project achieves a efficient and  transparent horizontal pooling of resources in edge nodes with constrained capabilities or specialised hardware, smoothly integrated with cloud resources. This represents a giant leap forward compared to to state-of-the-art vertical offloading solutions where the edge [...]

Development of an innovative platform for planning and optimised allocation of autonomous robotic vehicles for the agricultural sector. The SOMAGRO project contributes to the automation and electrification of agricultural machinery by boosting a platform based on artificial intelligence and robotics. This platform represents a paradigm shift in the sector, since it makes it possible to reduce the size and weight of current machinery, as well as promote electrification in this sector, reducing soil compaction and CO2 emissions. SOMAGRO provides new levels of information so that farmers have greater control over the tasks carried out on crops, optimising the [...]

Development of technologies to achieve sustainable and efficient processes for the recycling of lithium-ion batteries. The FREE4LIB project aims to develop 6 sustainable and efficient processes for the recycling of lithium-ion batteries at the end of their useful life, thanks to the creation of technologies with a technology readiness level (TRL) between 5 and 6. These 6 processes are dismantling, pre-treatment and 4 other material recovery processes. All of them deliver highly innovative recycling solutions, reaching high efficiency in the recovery of materials and improving the supply of secondary resources at European Union level. FREE4LIB will [...]

Artificial intelligence-driven robotic object handling system with persistent learning capabilities. The aim of the IntelliMan project is to develop a robotic system for manipulating different elements with high performance and constant learning capabilities through a heterogeneous set of sensors, for advanced robotics, manufacturing and prosthetic services. This system will be able to adapt to the characteristics of its environment and to decide how to execute a task autonomously, detecting flaws in its execution and requesting new knowledge through interaction. Ensuring security and performance, IntelliMan's advances range from learning manipulation skills to abstract descriptions of a handling [...]

Development of a socially intelligent assistance robot to help the elderly relieve loneliness at home. The Never Home Alone (NHoA) project aims to help seniors by relieving loneliness at home, maintaining healthy habits and encouraging them to interact with the community. The system will also protect, assist and monitor the evolution of each person in a personalised way. The overall goal of NHoA is to co-design a socially intelligent care robot as a key to patient robustness, adaptability, acceptance and commitment. The NHoA robot will be an embodied support actor who feels the social and emotional [...]

Creation of new sensors and tools for advanced and sustainable sewage management. The 4SM project aims to address the main challenges presented by sewage management through the digitisation of its networks. The project will explore sewage energy recovery and develop highly innovative methods for corrosion, toxicity and odor control, enhancing the capabilities of available monitoring tools. The results of the 4SM project will maximise the functionality of water management services in cities, contributing to the reduction of environmental impact, the alarm against the risk of floods, the resilience of infrastructures against climate change, the efficient use [...]

Research and development on the new technological challenges required by an electromechanical device. The OSC ROBOT project researches and develops solutions to the latest challenges presented by collaborative robots, depending on the changing needs of the manufacturer in different environments (food, health, metallurgy, etc.). The project is divided into 3 main objectives: Creation of a super low cost robot for developers, training centers and producers (makers) that simulates as much as possible each part of an industrial robot, but simplified to the minimum expression to get users of this device. Creation of a web platform that [...]

Use of Big Data to optimize the volume of wine production. The PREDIVÍ project aims to improve decision-making related to wine harvests through Big Data. The growing variability of the volume and quality of wine production means that the investment of resources and the dedication of technical teams to obtain harvest predictions is also increasing. Currently, the technical teams use multiple systems (sampling, maturation controls, gauging, etc.) to ascertain in advance the aforementioned variables of volume and optimal harvest time, but the reliability of the results that these systems provide has a lot of potential for [...]