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Engineering and technology
- Automation and control systems
- Electromagnetism and antenna technology
- Robotics and automatic control
- Robot manipulation and interfaces
- Sensing, estimation and actuating
Every year, over 1 gigaton of metal sheets are produced and manipulated across industries like construction, machinery and transportation, driving a need for efficient handling methods. Existing robotic solutions like suction cups or magnetic grippers fall short in handling sheet variability, perforated or greasy sheets, and precise single or multiple sheet handling. The IOF project aims to establish a spin-off company to commercialize SMARTGrip, a solution capable of addressing these challenges. Our SMARTGrip utilizes tactile sensor feedback to handle variable sheet dimensions, perforations and effortless (de-)stacking, without requiring prior knowledge of sheet geometry. The project seeks to further explore market opportunities, develop a business plan, and advance the technology to an industrial Proof-of-Concept through applied research aligned with market opportunities.