Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of Baden-Württemberg Sponsors FZI Robotics Workshop
High-tech workshop for prototype development
Research focus: Applied Artificial Intelligence
The FZI has set up a high-tech workshop with funding from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of Baden-Württemberg. This investment sustains prototype development and research transfer in service robotics and autonomous systems.
With generous funding of 405,000 euros from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of Baden-Württemberg, the FZI Research Center for Information Technology has set up a state-of-the-art CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) workshop. This investment, totaling 450,000 euros, marks a significant step in the region’s technological growth and innovation promotion. It will also allow the prospective development of pioneering robotics prototypes at the highest level.
High-tech equipment for the future
At the heart of the new workshop is a state-of-the-art 5-axis milling machine capable of minimizing reclamping operations and increasing production accuracy. The modern facility can be programmed directly based on CAD (computer-aided design) data, which allows for fast development and production cycles. The equipment will soon be supplemented by a cycle lathe which makes it possible to manufacture sophisticated metal components. The two machines enable complex metal parts to be quickly produced with high precision, an immense advantage for making prototypes and individual parts, especially for service robotics and autonomous systems.
Funding by the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Baden-Württemberg
The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of Baden-Württemberg contributed the largest share of the funding, providing significant support for the region’s innovative strength. Minister Hoffmeister-Kraut emphasizes: “By specifically promoting such high-tech projects at our application-oriented research institutes, we strengthen the competitive position of our SMEs and contribute significantly to the development of new technologies.”
One step ahead in prototyping
“The FZI already enjoys an excellent reputation in developing innovative prototypes and pilot systems,” says FZI Executive Director Jan Wiesenberger. “By closely linking innovative software and hardware components, we can make an essential contribution to technology transfer. This reinforces our position as a research institution and brings considerable benefit to the regional industry.”
Added value for the region and small businesses
The new development capacities of the FZI can, in turn, provide numerous small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region with access to state-of-the-art manufacturing technology within the scope of projects. “With the new CAM workshop, we can manufacture complex components directly based on the technical drawing. We can also produce high-quality components for rapid prototyping faster and more cost-efficiently,” says Georg Heppner, Head of the Living Lab Service Robotics in the FZI’s Intelligent Systems and Production Engineering research division. The new workshop is located near the #SmartProductionPark Karlsruhe at the FZI.
Future-oriented development
At a time when development cycles are becoming ever shorter, and the demand for highly specialized prototypes is increasing, the investment in the new workshop is an important step. This will put the FZI in an even better position to respond to industry requirements and develop innovative solutions as part of its application research. Georg Heppner emphasizes the benefits of the new facility: “The new capacities will be used in a variety of projects. From special grippers and tools for the targeted robotic disassembly of old electronics to sensor brackets and superstructures for mobile robots, for example, in the inspection of industrial plants or the recovery of hazardous substances, to complete new developments of systems for the handling of special workpieces.” By setting up the new CAM workshop, the FZI sends a clear signal for the future and underlines its role as an essential player in the development of complex autonomous systems.
About the FZI
The FZI Research Center for Information Technology, with headquarters in Karlsruhe and a branch office in Berlin, is a non-profit institution for information technology application research and technology transfer. It delivers the latest scientific findings in information technology to companies and public institutions and qualifies individuals for academic and business careers or the leap into self-employment. Supervised by professors from various faculties, the research groups at the FZI develop interdisciplinary concepts, software, hardware, and system solutions for their clients and implement the solutions found as prototypes. The FZI House of Living Labs provides a unique research environment for application research. The FZI is an innovation partner of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and a strategic partner of the German Informatics Society (GI).
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