IERA Award
Butler robot wins inventor competition
This year's 13th IERA Award for Robotics and Automation goes to the butler robot 'Relay'. The little errand boy from the US development company Savioke carries out its errands completely independently - for example in hotels, hospitals or logistics centers.
"In robotics, the IERA Award is one of the most important awards in the world today," says Joe Gemma, President of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). "The current award-winning robot Relay is a perfect example of how research and development can work successfully with industry." The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) presents the annual "Award for Invention and Entrepreneurship in Robotics and Automation" (IERA) together with the Robotics and Automation Society of the International Engineering Society (IEEE-RAS).
"Relay is the world's first fully autonomous delivery robot that can navigate safely in a busy environment," says Steve Cousins, CEO of Savioke. "Comparable technologies can only use predetermined routes or are used in confined areas. Our primary goal is always to have robots help people and make the interaction as friendly and pleasant as possible."
Relay is just under one meter tall and 50 centimetres wide with its slim waist. It communicates with its surroundings via touchscreen, smartphone and sounds. In addition, intuitive facial expressions complement the interaction. There is a transport compartment on the top of the robot. On delivery, Relay independently operates the elevators and is therefore suitable for errands in building complexes such as offices, hospitals or hotels. There it delivers drinks, medication or towels like a butler. Once the job is done, it returns to its docking station on its own.
The first Relay models were used in the hotel industry three years ago. The next step was to use them in apartment and industrial buildings. Savioke's robots have now completed more than 100,000 errands in the USA, Asia and the Middle East. Relay will soon also be coming to Germany and France.
The other finalists
A joint jury consisting of representatives from IFR and IEEE-RAS met to select the winners of the 2017 IERA Award. A total of four competitors presented their innovative solutions in the final round this year. The three other finalists were:
- Anybotics presented Anydrive, a robotic joint for controlled, dynamic interaction of cobots
- Movendo Technology was in the running with Hunova, a robot for physiotherapy support that is intuitive to use
- OptoForce competed with sensor technology, the 3D Force Sensor and the 6 Axis F/T Sensor for industrial robots
You might also be interested in
Kuka invests in Augsburg site
Robot manufacturer Kuka plans to invest more than 100 million euros in the expansion and modernization of its headquarters in the east of Augsburg in the coming years, according to Dr. Till Reuter, CEO of Kuka AG, in a press conference.
read more...Controller housed in mobile unit
The 2-arm structure of the Scara robot Duaro with interlocking central base axes enables cooperative 2-arm tasks which, according to manufacturer Kawasaki, could previously only be performed by humans in this form.
read more...Does a tax on robot labor make sense?
In the April issue of 'Quarterly Robotics', Computer&AUTOMATION took up the discussion of whether a robot tax makes sense in the age of digitalization. A reader's opinion.
read more...Job killer robots?
In January 2017, the opinion research institute Kantar Emnid conducted a representative survey on behalf of the BMBF on the topic of "Creating knowledge - thinking and working in the world of tomorrow". Robotics is viewed quite critically.
read more...European Robotics Hackathon' competition
Robots prove themselves in the nuclear power plant
Radioactive material can escape in the event of a nuclear incident. If the radiation exposure is high, robots are the best way to secure the material. At the end of June 2017, eleven self-constructed robots took on this task at the 'European...
read more...Kuka and VW expand cooperation
Robot application for autonomous refueling
The Augsburg-based robotics specialist Kuka and Volkswagen are intensifying their cooperation. Together, the two companies will develop robot-based service concepts for the car of the future.
read more...Economical even with small batch sizes
How can robot systems also be used economically for smaller batch sizes? The recently completed 'ReApp' research project aims to provide answers to this question.
read more...Bonding in automotive engineering
Dürr relies on lightweight robots
Gluing is a common process in the automotive industry. In the area of final assembly, Dürr has recently started using sensitive lightweight robots that work hand in hand with the workers.
read more...Risk versus benefit
Many manufacturing companies considering the use of collaborative robots in assembly workstations, for example, are still finding it difficult to weigh up the risks and benefits. The "SafeMate" joint project aims to provide assistance in this regard...
read more...