HARTU (Handling with AI-enhanced Robotic Technologies for flexible manufactUring)

HARTU (Handling with AI-enhanced Robotic Technologies for flexible manufactUring)

HARTU will provide the necessary tools to implement three basic stages of parts handling, i.e., grasping, assembly and releasing. These tools aim to address the key challenges for creating handling applications using innovative technical approaches: (1) self-supervised grasp and release planning policies identification and control; (2) learning and controlling contact-rich assembly skills from human demonstrations; (3) developing an AI-based multi-modal perception for visual-servoing and continuous monitoring in handling operations, supported by virtual and continuous learning; and (4) to develop versatile and dexterous soft grippers with electro-active fingertips. HARTU is an industry-driven research project that includes the deployment of technologies in 5 industrially relevant scenarios: 4 manufacturing lines in different sectors: automotive, household appliances, hand tool manufacturing and food processing, and 1
in logistics to validate that the technologies can be transferred to other sectors. They offer an enormous variety of products in shape, material and sizes. This approach contributes to the (1) industrial objective of HARTU, i.e., to increase the flexibility, reconfigurability and efficiency of manufacturing lines through easy-to-integrate and configure, safe and reliable handling systems, supported by tools for application development and reference architecture. It also contributes to the (2) social objective: to contribute to user acceptance and adoption, identification of skills development needs and compliance with the liability/legal and ethic aspects.

Duration:

1 January 2023 – 31 December 2025

Participants:

• FUNDACION TEKNIKER
• DEUTSCHES FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM FUR
  KUNSTLICHE INTELLIGENZ GMBH
• ASOCIACION DE INVESTIGACION METALURGICA DEL
  NOROESTE
• ENGINEERING – INGEGNERIA INFORMATICA SPA
• TOFAS TURK OTOMOBIL FABRIKASI ANONIM SIRKETI
• PHILIPS CONSUMER LIFESTYLE BV
• ULMA MANUTENCION S. COOP
• DEEP BLUE SRL
• FMI HTS DRACHTEN B.V
• TECNOALIMENTI SCPA
• POLITECNICO DI BARI
• OMNIGRASP SRL
• INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
  INCORPORATED
• INFAR Industrial Co., Ltd.