On April 15, 2024, the Cluster of Excellence Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop (CeTI) at Technische Universität Dresden opened the 'CeTIBAR', a unique research laboratory that brings the performance of collaborative robots to life in an impressive way. The facility is used to research the interaction between humans and machines. At the same time, the direct presence of the cobots makes CeTIBAR "an inspiring venue where the results of innovative cutting-edge research become visible", according to the university.

The opening was attended by Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer, Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow, University Rector Prof. Ursula M. Staudinger and celebrity chef Benjamin Biedlingmaier. The latter demonstrated the possibilities offered by the combination of top-class cuisine and top-class research.

"With CeTIBAR, we are inaugurating a living lab and a highly innovative place for science transfer on our campus. At this location, robotics and the future of the tactile internet can be experienced - a milestone on the path to democratizing skills and abilities," explains the University Rector.
"With CeTIBAR, we have created a place where researchers can collaborate across disciplines and test their ideas in society," says Prof. Frank Fitzek, spokesperson for the Cluster of Excellence CeTI at TU Dresden. CeTIBAR serves as a dynamic real-world laboratory for researchers from the Cluster of Excellence. There, they will get to the bottom of the question of how we will learn in the future or how our working world will be changed by robots.

At the opening, celebrity chef Benjamin Biedlingmaier gave a demonstration of his culinary skills in combination with robotics - while he created a dish, the machines prepared, decorated and served it. "The cobots take over repetitive tasks, leaving you more room for creativity. The idea behind this is not to replace the chef, but to support them in times of a shortage of skilled workers," he emphasizes.

The Center for Tactile Internet with Human-Machine Interaction is a Cluster of Excellence at TU Dresden. In future, people should be able to interact with robots or machines in the real or virtual world in real time. The aim of the research is to democratize access to skills and expertise in order to promote equal opportunities for people of different genders, ages, cultural backgrounds or physical disabilities. Scientists from the fields of electrical engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, psychology, medicine and neuroscience work together on an interdisciplinary basis to create the foundations for new applications in medicine, industry and the Internet of Skills.