Energy-efficient, Lightweight, safe Yet Strong manipulator Arm (ELYSA) for cobot applications (ELYSA)

The objective of the project is to acquire the knowledge to develop a lightweight, energy-efficient robot arm for safe human-robot interaction in an uncaged environment, i.e. for cobots. This will allow cobots to lift heavier payloads while still working in an uncaged environment, reducing the required shop floor space. Having a cobot to alleviate the task of humans - while humans remain in charge - will enable them to work longer in healthy condition. Safe human-robot interaction combines the strength & endurance of robots with the flexibility, creativity & dexterity of humans. Cobots have great potential, but have not seen widespread introduction in Flemish companies mainly because of their limited payload. The arm should be able to carry payloads up to 30 kg safely while being lightweight (payload/weight >= 1), energy efficient and easy to control. The robot arm must be sufficiently compact to be mounted on a mobile platform, while having a similar reach and maximum tool speed as cobots in the same payload class. According to marketsandmarkets, the market for cobots is expected to be worth USD 4.28 Billion by 2023, growing at a rate of 57% between 2017 and 2023. The market share for cobots with >10 kg payload capacity is expected to grow at the highest rate. ELYSA is backed by an advisory committee covering the full value chain: technology providers, r/cobot manufacturers and system integrators. The companies are committed to fully utilize ELYSA’s results in Flanders.
For Flanders, the outcome of the project holds an important potential for companies to focus on this market opportunity and realize a Flemish competence pool, supported by the top of the research world. It will allow our SMEs to enter not only Industry 4.0, but also the soon to come Industry 5.0 era.