Fraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering IGP
Research for the Next Generation of Intelligent Systems: Humanoid Robotics
The Fraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering IGP, led by Prof. Wilko Flügge, and the Chair of Production Organization and Logistics at the University of Rostock, led by Prof. Jan Sender, are pursuing an innovative field of research: humanoid robotics for industrial applications.
As part of these research projects, a Unitree G1 robot is tested under real-world conditions. The goal is to further develop humanoid robotics in a practical manner as well as exploring its potential for industrial environments.
The vision: robots which can be deployed flexibly, safely, and intuitively in production or maintenance work—even under challenging conditions. Particularly in industries such as mechanical and plant engineering or the maritime sector, opportunities are emerging for autonomous systems which can dynamically adapt to complex tasks.
Humanoid robots are not intended to replace humans. Rather, they provide meaningful support to skilled workers. They can be deployed in non-ergonomic, dangerous, or monotonous work situations, thereby making a valuable contribution to reducing the workload. The focus is on collaboration, not substitution.
Despite the progress made so far, major challenges remain: issues concerning system security, ease of programming, as well as the legal framework play a central role. All topics to which the Fraunhofer IGP and the Chair of Production Organization and Logistics are actively dedicated to.
