This DLD Future Hub session explores the transformative potential of humanoid and assistive robotics, highlighting their impact on industries, healthcare, and daily life.
Alin Albu-Schäffer, a leading robotics researcher at the German Aerospace Center, emphasizes that humanoid robots represent “physical AI”, a fusion of advanced hardware and intelligence. He points out that much of the public attention may lie on robots like Elon Musk’s Optimus, which is intended for general-use, everyday tasks – but the real value is more likely to be in industrial applications.
Europe, and Germany in particular, have a “network of excellence in robotics” that allows researchers to transfer scientific excellence into practical applications, Albu-Schäffer emphasizes.
One example is an award-winning assistive robot named EDAN, presented by Annette Hagengruber, that is designed for people with severe motor impairments. “It’s not a secret that we are running in a care crisis”, she says, noting that Germany alone will lack 690,000 caregivers by 2049. “And technologies like robotics can contribute to solving that problem.”
Jörn Vogel demonstrates how EDAN integrates seamlessly into a wheelchair, allowing users to control the robotic arm with the same interface. “It’s similar to a lane-keeping assistant in the car”, he explains.
Nicola Kolb showcases modular construction robots developed by her company Sitegeist. Designed to operate in chaotic environments, these robots can handle tasks like concrete removal and drilling. “Our construction robot can remove three cubic meters per day”, Kolb points out. “It does not need any breaks and just one human construction worker supervising its work.”
Watch the video for more details on robot assistants and their applications.
