THE PROJECT
From research to industrial demonstrators.
REMICS continues the work started in the MICS and ECOSISTER programmes, structured around three work packages: WP1 capitalises on the advances made in advanced robotics, digital twins and additive manufacturing, and WP3 takes the resulting technologies from research to industrial demonstrators. Herobots takes part in the robotics axis of WP1, focused on manufacturing and in particular on the aerospace supply chain: soft and collaborative robotics for production tasks with high variability and complexity, not easily automated with conventional technology.
THE CHALLENGE
Humanoids today do service work. Industry wants them for production.
Industrial robotic cells are built around a single operation. A bonding cell dispenses adhesive; it does not weld, inspect or assemble. Every new process means another cell, another footprint, another integration project. Humanoids look like the way out, but the ones that exist have legs and lack the precision, accuracy and repeatability that production asks for.
HEROBOTS IN THE PROJECT
A humanoid torso, and tools for industrial tasks.
Herobots develops the bimanual humanoid torso and the custom tools it works with. The torso docks onto an industrial workbench and operates there with the dexterity of a fixed installation. It arrives on a mobile base that carries it to the station; once the torso is docked, the base detaches and leaves to serve another station. The task changes and the structure stays.
Docked torso
The torso attaches to the workbench and works as a fixed installation
Detachable base
The mobile part leaves once docked and serves another station
Multi-task
One structure covers operations that today need one cell each
Safe interaction
Tendon-driven compliance and force control at the point of contact
technology
What the limbs are made of
Patented tendon-driven joints, custom actuation and electronics, and a software stack built for non-conventional kinematics.
Double rolling joint
An extremely compact rotational joint with helical teeth, protected by patent n. 102024000021885.
SEA actuation
Around ten linear Series Elastic Actuators drive the opposed tendon pairs, plus one rotational actuator on the first joint.
Compact electronics
Modular architecture with very small FOC motor drivers and magnetic linear encoders integrated on PCB, measuring both position and force.
Generalised CAM
A CAM engine for 3D printing, bonding, spraying, micro-milling and inspection, able to handle non-conventional kinematics commercial CAM cannot.
Digital twin
Kinematic and dynamic models that account for link and joint elasticity, enabling both kinematic and force control of the limbs.
Pass-through channel
A central channel through the joint routes adhesive lines, nebulised fluids, micro-manufacturing tools or inspection sensors to the tip.
PROJECT IN NUMBERS
PARTNERS / FUNDING
ECOSISTER
Programme
MICS and ECOSISTER.
Partners
17 partners in WP1: 10 research bodies, 6 SMEs and 1 large company. Comau takes part in the consortium.
Sectors
Aerospace / Manufacturing.