At the 'AI-based Robotics 2024' conference in Berlin, Prof. Angela Schoellig from the consortium leader, the Technical University of Munich (TUM), and RIG spokesperson Prof. Tamim Asfour from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT ) presented the RIG concept for AI-based robotics. The project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for the next four years, will start on July 1, 2024.

In addition to TUM and KIT, eight other universities across Germany are involved: the University of Bonn, Technische Universität Berlin, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Universität Bremen, Universität Stuttgart, RWTH Aachen University, Technische Universität Dresden and Technische Universität Nürnberg. In addition, there are the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, three Fraunhofer Institutes (IPA, IOSB and IML) and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) as well as 19 associated partners. Cooperation with other (also international) partners, for example from industry, is planned.

"I am delighted that together we have managed to establish a robotics network with such strong partners from universities and non-university institutions for this pioneering concept for AI-based robotics," says Prof. Schoellig: "The RIG is a historic initiative that has come at exactly the right time. We are responding to current trends in the USA, for example, where many well-known companies are investing heavily in AI-based robotics. And with our program, which is geared towards cutting-edge research and talent."

The RIG is pursuing the goal of using robotics to catch up with innovations in the chemical, pharmaceutical and automotive industries. "Germany has the potential to play a pioneering role in embodied AI," explains RIG coordinator Prof. Schoellig. "Intelligent robots could become the next big export hit 'Made in Germany'." RIG spokesperson Prof. Tamim Asfour explains: "We will establish the RIG as a nationally recognized and internationally unique institute that shapes cutting-edge research, education and innovation in AI-based robotics and aligns it with Germany's needs."

The strategic goals of the Robotics Institute Germany

The five strategic goals of the Robotics Institute Germany:

1. Making research globally competitive
   The goals of the RIG are to promote cooperation between robotics locations and to establish research clusters for key technologies in Germany. Globally competitive research for AI-based robotics is to be created in Germany - with a clear focus on innovation. To this end, the RIG should focus on the specific challenges in Germany and drive them forward with mission-oriented research.
2. Sharing infrastructure and resources
   The RIG partners will use their infrastructure and resources for joint research. This includes physical and virtual laboratories as well as software and research data. Data and software will be shared in a dynamic, open ecosystem.
3. Promoting talent and offering training for robotics
   Developing and finding talent is at the heart of the RIG talent program. A RIG curriculum for research-oriented teaching of AI-based robotics, a standardized introductory bachelor's course and new English-language master's programs as well as a RIG doctoral program for robotics are to be developed. In order to attract talent, the RIG is already starting in schools: Courses in robotics and AI are to be developed for the upper secondary school level and talented pupils are to be supported.
4. Making robotics research comparable with benchmarking and competitions
   RIG robotics benchmarks are developed in our own laboratories in order to be able to test skills such as object manipulation, navigation in difficult terrain or human-robot interaction in a standardized way. With these benchmarks, the RIG is setting new standards for the evaluation of robot systems in areas such as personal assistance, flexible production and logistics. In addition, competitions such as the Autonomous Racing Challenge, RoboCupHumanoid Soccer or RoboCupRescue for search and rescue robots are to play an even greater role in the future and a separate RIG Challenge is to be developed.
5. Simplifying the transfer of research results for industry
   In order to turn research into competitive products, research and industry must work closely together. The RIG innovation program therefore aims to identify the technical needs of industry and increase the technology readiness level. The RIG wants to promote the start-up culture and also motivate researchers in particular to develop new fields of application for robotics. The number and size of new start-ups, the number of patents and the amount of direct funding from industry are reviewed on an annual basis.

Full partners are: TUM, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), University of Bonn, Technical University of Berlin, Technical University of Darmstadt, University of Bremen, University of Stuttgart, RWTH Aachen University, Technical University of Dresden, Technical University of Nuremberg, German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation IOSB, Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI).

Associated partners include: University of Augsburg, University of Bayreuth, University of Bielefeld, Braunschweig University of Technology, Chemnitz University of Technology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, University of Freiburg, University of Hamburg, Leibniz University Hannover, University of Heidelberg, Ilmenau University of Technology, University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, University of Lübeck, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, University of Tübingen, Baiosphere, Cyber Valley GmbH, Hessian Center for Artificial Intelligence, German Rescue Robotics Center e.V.