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New tasks for intelligent helpers Research projects on autonomous robots completed successfully
Robots are stronger than humans, their movements faster and more precise. But before they can independently take on tasks similar to humans, many conceptual and technical challenges must be overcome. With three research projects that attracted a great deal of attention at a conference, scientists at H-BRS have taken the performance and safety of autonomous systems a step further.
Colleague KELO 500 Dow independently pushes transport trolleys or beds through the clinic and communicates with the other electronic employees
How can robots unburden hospital staff? Relieving busy caregivers of logistical tasks, such as taking away dirty laundry or empty water bottles, is not just important during a pandemic. Thanks to the completed EU research project ROPOD, a market-ready robot will soon be available to take on this work. H-BRS developed the robot jointly with KU Leuven, Eindhoven University of Technology and the industrial partners SMF Ketels and Locomotec and tested it in the AGAPLESION Frankfurt Diakonie Clinics. The KELO 500 Dow can autonomously transport trolleys or hospital beds through the building. A map of the building in the robot’s memory system helps it to determine its own route, and it can even operate independently on several floors with the help of automated lifts. The main task of Sankt Augustin researchers was error analysis and what is called fleet management – the programmed routines enabling several robots to share the workload or stand in for each other in the event of a malfunction. In March 2020, the two industrial partners founded the joint venture KELO Robotics, which aims to bring the results of the project to series production. Logistics giant DHL is now interested in the KELO 500 Dow robot as well.
