Robotix-Academy Conference for Industrial Robotics (RACIR) 2019

This year’s Robotix-Academy Conference for Industrial Robotics (RACIR) was held in University of Liège, Belgium, during June 05, 2019. The topics concerned by RACIR were: robot design, robot kinematics/dynamics/control, system integration, sensor/actuator networks, distributed and cloud robotics, bioinspired systems, service robots, robotics in automation, biomedical applications, autonomous vehicles (land, sea and air), robot perception, manipulation with multifinger hands, micro/nano systems, sensor information, robot vision, multimodal interface and human-robot interaction. The Robotix-Academy project is subsidized within the framework of the INTERREG V A Greater Region 2014 – 2020 program and co-financed up to 60% by ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) funds. Within the project the ZeMA is taking the lead, along with the participating project partners from Belgium, Luxemburg, Lorraine and Rhineland-Palatinate. The goal of the project is primarily to build synergies in learning and research in the field of robotics through cross-border cooperation and this way, establish a long-lasting research cluster for industrial robotics in the Great Region. The academy functions as a cross-border platform for cooperation for the universities, research institutions, transfer partners, user companies and suppliers involved. This research cluster and the cooperation platform should exploit the potential of the Great Region in the areas of research, development and innovation, as well as increase the attractiveness and the competitiveness of the Great Region. Another objective consists in growing the innovative capacities of the companies through the transfer of technologies and the insertion of new technologies inside a wider and diversified network. Hence, the academy’s task also lies in developing the necessary know-how in order to provide it to industrial practice. Especially SMEs are supported with the introduction of new technologies but also larger companies benefit from these extra-university consultancy, qualification, and research services in the field of industrial robotics. For no national institution can master alone the complexity that goes along with these topics, the network of the Robotix-Academy should unite the partners inside the Great Region. The concept of common lectures and transfer of technology brings the specific know-how of the partners together. Moreover, a cross-border cooperation enables them to support each other with the application of publicly-funded bilateral projects with SMEs. The Robotix-Academy will initiate numerous cross-border cooperation projects over the next few years and thus, in line with the INTERREG program, make the competitiveness of the Greater Region progress, as well as increase the innovation capacity of businesses.