EU launches RoboSAPIENS project for adaptive industrial robots

The EU-funded project aims to improve adaptive robotics, ensuring industrial robots can safely and efficiently collaborate with humans.
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A consortium of universities, technology accelerators, and private research labs, funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe program, has launched RoboSAPIENS, a project aimed at enhancing the adaptability and trustworthiness of industrial robots. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), industrial robot installations in Europe increased by 24% in 2021, reaching 84,302 units. The new project seeks to ensure these robots can efficiently adapt to changing environments while maintaining safe collaboration with humans.

The RoboSAPIENS consortium aims to advance robotic self-adaptation, empowering robots to dynamically respond to unforeseen changes in system structure or environment. The initiative focuses on developing control software for open-ended self-adaptation, improving safety engineering techniques, and utilising deep learning to reduce task uncertainty. This approach is designed to ensure that robots can reliably and reproducibly adapt to new tasks without the need for reprogramming.

Project coordinator Peter Gorm Larsen emphasised the importance of safety and trustworthiness in industrial robotics as Europe advances its capabilities. The project will build on the Monitor-Analyze-Plan-Execute-Knowledge (MAPE-K) framework to include adaptive controllers, incorporating deep learning and digital twin simulation techniques. RoboSAPIENS is currently conducting industrial use studies with manufacturing and logistics companies to test its adaptive controllers in real-world scenarios.

Why does this matter?

The launch of RoboSAPIENS comes amid broader efforts by the European Commission to promote human-centric AI, as seen with the introduction of the InTouchAI.eu initiative. At the same time, AI experts express concerns about granting legal status to robots, highlighting the need for careful consideration of AI’s role in society. RoboSAPIENS aims to strike a balance between innovation and safety, ensuring that industrial robots can adapt effectively while maintaining reliable and trustworthy operations.