The OL-450S is now available in a standard no-mast configuration, with optional 1.2 m mid-mast and 1.6 m full-mast accessories. These options give manufacturers and system integrators greater flexibility in how the robot navigates and localizes in facilities with varying ceiling heights, traffic patterns, layout constraints, and workflow requirements.

The standard no-mast configuration keeps the OL-450S at its lowest profile while supporting safe, reliable cart transport in compact, height-constrained production spaces. It maintains route flexibility through narrow aisles, low door sections, overhead structures, and areas around fixed production equipment where added height could limit access.

The mid-mast configuration adds elevated scanning for highly dynamic, high-traffic environments where improved localisation and navigation are required, but vertical clearance remains limited. By raising the scanner above floor-level activity, it improves environmental visibility in shared spaces with moving carts, operators, and equipment while preserving access through elevators, doorways, and low overhead structures.

For larger, busier, or more visually complex operations, the full-mast configuration provides the highest scanning position to maximise environmental v6isibility and navigation robustness where height constraints are not a limiting factor. By referencing stable features higher in the environment, it strengthens navigation performance across dynamic production and intralogistics spaces.

Together, these configurations help manufacturers match the OL-450S to specific clearance, traffic, and workflow requirements.

Production-ready by design

The OL-450S is OMRON’s turnkey AMR solution for cart transport automation, combining a compact footprint, integrated lifting plate, and payload capacity up to 450 kg. With a 108 mm to 308 mm lift range, the robot can move under carts, lift them securely, and support existing material handling workflows with minimal infrastructure changes.

Across all configurations, omni-directional mobility helps the OL-450S move laterally, rotate in place, and manoeuvre efficiently through changing facility layouts. Natural feature navigation, onboard sensing, and wireless charging support dependable operation with less manual intervention.

For system integrators, the OL-450S also provides flexibility for application-specific cart designs. Its lifting plate can be raised, widened, or, within defined constraints, extended to support different payload dimensions and workflow needs while maintaining safety and stability.

“With the expanded OL 450S configurations, we’re giving customers the flexibility to match the robot to their environment instead of forcing the environment to adapt to the robot,” said Mona Fahimi, Global Product Manager for OL 450S at OMRON.

Centralised fleet management with FLOW Core

Like all OMRON AMRs, the OL-450S is managed through FLOW Core, OMRON’s fleet management platform. FLOW Core gives users centralized control over robot traffic, task assignment, and fleet coordination from a single interface. The platform supports fleets of up to 100 mobile robots with different payload capacities, while real-time visibility into robot activity and workflows helps teams coordinate transport tasks across the facility.

“Manufacturers need automation that works within the realities of their production environment,” said Justin King, Vice President of Product Management, Marketing, and Business Development. “With the expanded OL-450S lineup, they can apply the same cart transport platform across a wider range of facility conditions and workflow demands.”

For more information, visit the OL-450S product page or contact OMRON to discuss your application and identify the right approach for your material handling goals.

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Through these innovations, LAPP aims to simplify architectures, ensure reliable data flows and support the growing use of robotics in warehouses.

The new ÖLFLEX ROBOT range has been specially designed for dynamic 3D movements in automated environments. These flexible PVC cables are characterised by excellent flex and torsion performance and are intended for demanding applications in robotics and automation.

The 909 and 909 D variants can withstand up to 2 million bending and torsion cycles. For environments subject to high levels of electromagnetic interference, the shielded versions 928 D and 909 D offer additional protection, ensuring reliable signal transmission.

LAPP also offers the ÖLFLEX SERVO FD 797 CP cable, designed for use in cable carriers. This cable has been specifically developed to withstand high mechanical stresses in moving applications and offers advanced performance characteristics: its easily separable inner sheath allows for cable preparation that is up to 50% faster and more precise. It also stands out for its optimised service life, meeting the demands of the most demanding applications.

Efficient signal transmission and compact connectors

The highly flexible EPIC ClickConnect M12A PVC cable enables fast and reliable signal transmission between sensors and actuators, even in the presence of vibrations.

Thanks to its push-pull locking M12 connectors, it is particularly suited to moving machine parts and cable chains, offering a reliable solution for demanding applications.

The range is also expanded with EPIC rectangular connector kits, available in plastic and metal versions. These compact connectors have been specially designed for applications where installation space is limited.

Reliable network solutions and cables for dynamic applications

In the field of industrial networking, LAPP is expanding its portfolio with the ETHERLINE ACCESS U Entry Level models and their Gigabit Entry Level version. These are unmanaged Fast Ethernet switches, available in 5- or 8-port versions.

Completely fanless, they are particularly quiet and require no maintenance. They are therefore an ideal solution for cost-effective industrial Ethernet applications where robustness and reliability are essential.

With these ranges, LAPP is reaffirming its ambition to play a central role in the industrial connectivity market for intralogistics. In this environment, connectivity plays a decisive role. It ensures the continuous flow of power and data between different pieces of equipment, directly determining the performance and availability of the facilities. A failure, even a localised one, can lead to a production line stoppage and incur significant costs.

Elliot Hoole, Project Business Manager of LAPP, comments: “In intralogistics projects, connectivity is no longer just a supporting element, it directly impacts how well the entire system performs. Customers are increasingly looking beyond individual products and towards a partner who can take responsibility for a fully coordinated, end-to-end solution. Through our project business approach, LAPP brings together cabling, connectors, network components, and pre-assembled systems into a single, coherent connectivity concept. By working closely with our customers, we help simplify installation, reduce complexity at start-up, and enable operations to be up and running sooner.”

Addressing growing demand in sectors such as shipbuilding and steel construction, it can be carried easily with just one hand, allowing a single person to supervise multiple welding locations and mitigating the Europe-wide shortage of skilled welders.

Boasting a 3kg payload, the CRX-3iA can manipulate a welding torch and a seam-tracking sensor simultaneously, while its ±0.02 mm repeatability delivers the precision necessary for critical welding tasks. It automatically detects its installation angle after relocation and identifies weld seam locations and calculates paths accordingly, thanks to a third-party laser scanner or touch sensor. Meanwhile, an optional magnetic base enables it to be secured directly to large steel structures. This reduces system complexity compared with traditional robot installations, which typically need heavier equipment and additional safeguarding measures.

As part of the wider CRX series – which extends to 30kg payload and 1,756mm reach – the CRX-3iA integrates fully with FANUC’s established control and software ecosystem. It also incorporates FANUC’s wrist button technology, which allows operators to guide and teach positions directly from the robot arm, streamlining programming and shortening changeover times.

Beyond welding, the CRX-3iA is ideally suited to applications such as intralogistics and mobile automation. Its compact footprint and low mass also make it ideal for mounting on an automated guided vehicle (AGV), where it can support picking, placing and line supply tasks. In addition, it lends itself well to education and training environments, where space constraints often render the use of traditional industrial robots impractical.

“Manufacturers need automation that adapts to their environment, not the other way around,” says Paul Ribus, FANUC’s Head of Sales Coordination Europe. “With the CRX-3iA, we focused on portability, fast deployment and high repeatability. It allows customers to take advantage of collaborative welding and handling wherever the work is, without complex installation.”

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Some trades are passed down from father to son – along with a passion for excellence. When Bruno Mériaudeau speaks about the sophistication of the components produced in his workshop, the sparkle in his eyes and the enthusiasm in his voice, tinged with pride, say it all. This affable and good-humored leader has clearly inherited a deep appreciation for precision engineering.

Méca-Précis was founded in 1975 by his father, driven by a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to put his expertise in highly technical component manufacturing to work. This expertise was honed during his time working for the military, where he designed and produced one-off parts tailored to highly specialised applications. His son joined the company in 1982, at a time when Bruno Mériaudeau was the eighth employee of the family business.

Today, he is preparing to pass the torch to his own son, Nicolas, who took over the management of Méca-Précis in 2023. The company now employs 45 people and operates a fleet of 25 machine tools, 18 of which are CNC-controlled. Over the course of nearly half a century, the company – based in Chatillon-sur-Indre (36) – has continuously strengthened both its technical expertise and its production capabilities.

Méca-Précis has more than one string to its bow. It now specialises in prototype parts, one-off components, small and medium production runs, and welded mechanical assemblies. As a manufacturer of complex parts for the aerospace and satellite industries, the company has also maintained, for 48 years, the trust of a global leader in carton packaging machinery, for whom it produces parts and complete sub-assemblies.

While having the expertise and equipment to manufacture sophisticated components is essential, ensuring these parts meet stringent dimensional requirements is equally critical. To this end, Méca-Précis operates a standard measuring machine on the shop floor, as well as a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) housed in a thermally controlled environment. However, certain aerospace and space-sector clients require 100% inspection of all dimensions on every single part produced, both before and after surface treatment.

When inspection becomes a bottleneck in production

“Dimensional inspection of a single pin takes just one minute – but there can be as many as 300 to check. At the other end of the spectrum, inspecting a single complex component for a satellite can require up to 80 hours,” explains Nicolas Mériaudeau.

In this context, as production volumes increased and multiple palletised machining centres operated through the night, the coordinate measuring machine was no longer able to keep pace. “Our two inspectors were overwhelmed. To maintain a high level of service and manufacturing quality, and to ensure reasonable lead times for our customers, we needed to find a solution to eliminate the bottleneck in the inspection process. We therefore began searching for a way to automate and roboticise the inspection process,” explains Bruno Mériaudeau.

As the manufacturer of the coordinate measuring machine (CMM) used by Méca-Précis was unable to provide a suitable solution, Nicolas Mériaudeau turned to Mitutoyo. Mitutoyo proposed the design of a robotic measurement cell integrating the MiSTAR coordinate measuring machine, in collaboration with Engineering Data, a company specialising in fixturing solutions and the automation of machining centres.

Deployment of the robotic measurement cell

Less than a year after the initial meeting between the teams from Mitutoyo, Engineering Data, and Méca-Précis – with both quality inspectors closely involved throughout the project—the robotic measurement cell was installed in the workshop. Following phases dedicated to developing part inspection programs, system commissioning, configuration, and technical fine-tuning, an additional six months were required before the system became fully operational.

“We have effectively removed the bottleneck that was located in the quality control process. This solution brings us greater flexibility and allows us to significantly increase inspection capacity,” says Bruno Mériaudeau with satisfaction.

“If we did not have this robotic measurement cell, we would not be able to cope with the growing production volumes of series-manufactured parts, which are highly demanding in terms of quality control. We now have a solution that fully meets our needs. Throughout this project, we benefited from the quality of exchanges, responsiveness, attentiveness, and geographical proximity of the Engineering Data and Mitutoyo teams,” adds Nicolas Mériaudeau. As a result, the pressure that had been weighing on Méca-Précis’s two inspectors has been significantly reduced.

They can now rely on two measurement solutions to perform all the necessary checks in-house. The robotic cell has significantly reduced their workload by performing automated inspections during the day as well as overnight. Before leaving the workshop, they can load parts into the robotic system, which then carries out the inspections automatically in their absence.

Architecture and operation of the robotic measurement cell

This solution is the result of Engineering Data’s expertise in machine tool loading automation, combined with Mitutoyo’s know-how in dimensional control. The robotic measurement cell is installed within an enclosed structure, defined by glass panels that ensure operator safety while providing full visibility of the system’s internal operation. The cell integrates a multi-axis articulated robot responsible for handling operations, a Mitutoyo MiSTAR coordinate measuring machine designed for shop-floor use, and an automated storage unit capable of accommodating up to 20 pallets on which the parts to be inspected are secured. A loading station, accessible from outside the cell, allows interaction with the operator without interrupting overall operation.

The process begins with the loading phase. The operator places a pallet carrying a part onto the dedicated loading station. Each pallet is designed to hold the component in a position compatible with robotic handling and measurement operations. Using the cell’s human–machine interface, the operator selects the relevant part type. This information is transmitted to the cell’s control system, which automatically associates the component with the corresponding control program. The robot then picks up the pallet and transfers it to the storage unit. This operation can be repeated until the storage system is fully loaded.

Once the pallets have been loaded, the operator initiates the inspection cycle via the interface. The cell then operates autonomously. The robot successively retrieves the stored pallets and places them on the surface plate of the CMM, which is equipped with a clamping device ensuring proper positioning and stability during measurement. The coordinate measuring machine executes the inspection program associated with the part, performing the required dimensional measurements. The duration of this phase depends on the number of features to be checked and the complexity of the component, ranging from a few minutes to several hours.

At the end of the inspection, the robot retrieves the pallet and returns it to the storage cabinet. The cycle then continues automatically until all loaded parts have been inspected. The measurement results are recorded by the system and can be reviewed later by metrology engineers.

The overall operation relies on coordination between the control system, the robot, and the measuring machine. The automation of pallet handling allows the loading operations to be decoupled from the measurement phases, ensuring continuous use of the control equipment while reducing manual handling.

Designed for seamless integration into modern production environments, the new cobots support a wide range of applications, including palletising, machine tending and material handling. Their compact design enables deployment in space-constrained environments, with both external and EDGE integrated controller options supporting mobile and modular setups.

“The introduction of the KR 1824 and KR 1240 marks an important step in expanding the capabilities of collaborative robotics,” said Christoph Rieger, Chief Sales Officer at Kassow Robots. “Our unique combination of EDGE integrated controller, mobile deployment, high payload and extended reach enable more demanding applications within dynamic production environments.”

The new models also deliver improved motion performance, including 50% higher joint torque, more than 20% faster wrist joint speeds, and 40% increased mechanical stiffness. These enhancements enable more stable handling of heavier loads, faster cycle times, and improved precision in demanding applications. Key benefits include:

• Increased payload capacity for more demanding applications
• Seven-axis design for maximum flexibility and extended reach
• Automation of tasks beyond traditional cobot limits
• Compact design and light footprint for space-constrained environments
• Integrated controller option for simplified deployment and mobile integration

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ROBEAR was 150 cm tall, weighed 140 kilograms, and had a cute bear face. Developed in 2015, the care robot had been designed for lifting nursing home residents, but never made it past the prototype phase. The more compact lifting robot “Hug” also failed tests in Japanese nursing homes. Both products were time-consuming, cumbersome to manoeuvre, and the lifting process was uncomfortable for many residents.

Questioning the roles of technology

ROBEAR and Hug are representative examples of unfulfilled expectations placed on robots and artificial intelligence against the backdrop of aging populations and the shortage of care workers. “The fact that they haven’t been successful in practice yet is largely due to the technology design’s falling massively short of the complexity of caregiving activities,” says Laura Vogel, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Organization at TU Wien. “The notion that one can simply install a device that will solve problems is unrealistic.”

Vogel’s colleague Reinhard Kletter, a doctoral candidate at the Institute of Management Sciences at TU Wien, is a robotics expert and has seen quite a number of care robot prototypes come and go: “Technology often looks amazing on paper. But if it doesn’t meet the daily needs and values of care, it’s a waste of time and effort.” And Vogel emphasizes: “With many solutions, the effort required for implementation and maintenance is currently underestimated. That requires frequent software updates that simply shift costs and effort to the IT sphere instead of saving them altogether.”

User-centred research, on the other hand, seeks to focus product development on the needs of care facilities. Designs often start with a specific technology, with the objective of applying it to the care context.

Participation and dialogue

Caring Robots // Robots in Care is a transdisciplinary project funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF in which Laura Vogel, Reinhard Kletter, and other researchers from the fields of computer science, robotics, and social sciences are taking a step back: “Together with care workers and care recipients, we defined what roles for robots and artificial intelligence are desirable and useful in the care context,” notes Kletter.

In order to understand the needs and challenges in care settings, Vogel and other social scientists interviewed caregivers and systematically observed their daily work routines. In addition, the project team organized a series of workshops with caregivers and residents in Caritas nursing homes. “The goal was to learn from one another. First, we presented the technical background of AI and robotics: how do robots ‘see’, how can one communicate with machines via language models, and what possibilities arise from that?” explains Kletter.

Finally, the researchers, together with the workshop participants, collected wishes and ideas for applications in the care context. Building on this basis, Kletter and his colleagues from the fields of computer science, electrical engineering and robotics are currently developing several prototypes.

Language models instead of robots?

“We found that for many desired instances of use one doesn’t really need a robot with a physical body,” Kletter concludes. Caregivers are particularly hoping for support with documentation duties. Kletter has therefore developed AI-powered assistance software that is currently being tested and continuously improved. The idea: caregivers wear a small clip-on microphone that records conversations during care activities.

“This is important because even small talk can contain care-related information,” says the researcher. By means of speech recognition and large language models, care-relevant information is subsequently extracted and used to generate a structured report that can be used for care documentation. In addition, the researchers are testing another prototype to see how language models can be usefully applied to facilitate conversation and biographical work, particularly for people with dementia.

Value-oriented technology

It is not enough for care technology to be functional. It must also be aligned with the ethics of care. In his doctoral thesis, Reinhard Kletter focused on the issue of privacy, to which residents and caregivers attach special importance: “Privacy must be considered from the very beginning of the design process. This is not just about data protection, but also about ensuring that a tool does not transform the interaction between caregiver and resident.”

In the case of the AI documentation tool, only the transcript containing care-relevant information is retained, whilst the audio file is deleted immediately. The mere possibility that the technology could also be used for surveillance is a problem and requires clear communication and transparency.

Care quality first, hype second

The privacy aspect shows how new technology can change the social fabric in a work context, says Laura Vogel. She is currently focusing particularly on the effects on the professional self-image of nursing staff: “Technology should create added value, i.e. make work easier or strengthen skills, rather than downgrade nurses. That might be the case, for instance, if they have to clear away a machine after use and thus ultimately have less time to spend on care.” Kletter points out that the autonomy and participation of the caregiver must be preserved in all care processes. Therefore he wants to incorporate “human-in-the-loop” steps into AI-supported care documentation.

Many of the wishes expressed in the discussions – such as for a robot that can do cooking together with residents – reflect a fundamental difficulty, according to Vogel: “Care should be time-efficient, but ideally it should also be holistic and person-centred. I don’t think these conflicting objectives will be resolved if machines break the work down into many small, automated steps.”

When considering what care should look like in the future, we as a society should critically examine the advantages and disadvantages of AI and robotics – without succumbing to the hype and blind faith in technology.

With the INLINE pressure sensor from M-P Sensor, there are no longer any connection threads. You just cut the hose, put INLINE in between the lines, and you’re done. INLINE’s ultra-compact design and light weight requires no additional fastening or bracketing, making it ideal for applications in the fields of vacuum lifting, industrial automation and robotics.

The INLINE stands out with its rugged construction and compact size. Its durable PBT/PC housing and PI68 protection rating make it ideal for demanding environments, with pressure ranges from -14.5 PSO to 174 PSI available.

The user-friendly installation has push-in connections for 4, 6, 8 or 10mm fluid ports, and has an MTTF of up to 2,528 years. Operating medium is filtered, dry or oiled air and non-corrosive gases.

A robotic mandrel gripper, integrated by KOCH Robot Systems, ensures the precise and controlled transfer of rolls to the RoRo StretchPack packaging machine for the wrapping process. This combination of robotics and horizontal stretch hood wrapping technology provides stable and precise control, for wrapping rolls with significant variations in diameter (up to ø850 mm) and length (up to 700 mm).

Designed for controlled and accurate roll wrapping

The robotic mandrel gripper transfers each roll from a conveyor and positions it inside a five-sided stretch hood film prepared in the RoRo StretchPack packaging machine, and carries the roll through the packaging machine, placing it on the output conveyor. The mandrel is released and returned before the final welding of the film end for complete sealing of the roll packaging.

This solution is especially beneficial in cases where conventional belt conveyors are unsuitable or when products type require precise positioning.

Flexible packaging solution for sealed packaging

A key feature of RoRo StretchPack is the delivery of fully sealed packaging, with welded film ends providing reliable protection against external contamination. This capability is crucial for sensitive products such as paper, hygiene materials, and nonwoven rolls, ensuring product integrity during storage and transport.

The flexible design of the RoRo StretchPack packaging machine integrates seamlessly with a wide range of input and output systems, including robotic mandrel grippers. This adaptability allows for tailored packaging lines that meet specific customer requirements.

Robots in space exploration can help with everything from resource extraction on the Moon to the maintenance of space stations. But that requires the robots to be extremely robust. Graphic illustration: ESA

An ESA-funded project will develop a new protective covering, intended to pave the way for more affordable robots in space, while also holding potential for terrestrial applications.

Future space exploration will increasingly rely on robots as the primary workforce. However, this requires them to become better equipped to operate in the extreme environments of the Moon, Mars, and in orbit – with abrasive dust, intense solar radiation and temperatures ranging from minus 150°C to plus 120°C.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has now appointed a pan-European consortium led by Danish Technological Institute (DTI) to develop the next generation of a protective cover for robotic arms. The project is called Smart Skin for Exploration Cobots and aims to advance the technology to a level where it can be demonstrated under space-like conditions.

“The potential for robots in space exploration is extensive. They can help with everything from resource extraction on the Moon to on-orbit satellite servicing and active debris removal. But this requires the robots to be extremely robust and capable of operating autonomously – or safely in collaboration with humans,” says Christian Dalsgaard, Senior Consultant at DTI.

Advanced multilayer protection

The smart skin technology is being designed to be adaptable to different robotic arms – both for upcoming lunar missions, future Martian missions and for in-orbit operations.

At its core is a 3D-printed scaffold that can be mounted on the robotic arm. It serves as a platform for four integrated functions: a thermal and dust-protective layer that shields against extreme temperature fluctuations and abrasive dust penetration; flexible power and data cabling; sensors capable of detecting and preventing collisions; and features that enhance human-machine interaction.

3D printing has been chosen because it offers the necessary design freedom, but the technology will be pushed beyond its comfort zone – with entirely new approaches to design and material selection.

Traditionally, Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) materials have been used on all spacecrafts, providing high-efficiency thermal protection for the whole structure – or just for smaller instruments. However, these applications are static without any motion. Developing a similar type of thermal insulation for moving parts is significantly more challenging, but it allows for a wide range of future applications for robotic systems.

“Applying an advanced protection system could lead to building robotic arms from commercially available components. This can create a cost-effective way of providing new solutions for customers in many space domains – from deep space missions, through in-orbit servicing to Moon colonisation. At Admatis, we are committed to any development that gives Europe a competitive advantage, and this project is fully in line with our strategy,” says Tamás Bárczy, CEO at Admatis.

From space to practical benefits on Earth

Although the smart skin technology is being developed specifically for the unique challenges of space, parts of the technology may in time have wider application potential.

“We see strong potential for the technology eventually to find applications in companies where robots are exposed to extreme conditions. Think of metal foundries, where dirt and extreme heat challenge equipment performance. The technology we are developing could potentially extend the service life of critical equipment and reduce maintenance costs,” explains Christian Dalsgaard.

International collaboration with specialist expertise

The project builds on a previously successful pilot phase and brings together leading European space companies and specialists within adjacent fields.

DTI is coordinating the activities and contributing specialists in robotics, functional materials science and industrial 3D printing.

Admatis (Hungary) is developing the thermal protection, while PIAP Space (Poland) and Redwire Space Europe (Luxembourg) are making their expertise and robotic arms available – the same arms currently being developed for ESA’s upcoming lunar missions. This ensures that the smart skin technology is designed from the outset for the specific systems it is intended to protect.

As part of the ForNeRo research project, Professor Dirk Wilhelm (right) and researcher Luca Wegener (left) are working together. Image courtesy of Astrid Eckert / TUM

How can robots and humans work together as effectively as possible in the operating room of the future? Researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and TUM University Hospital investigated this question as part of the ForNeRo research project. Using a sensor-equipped system, they analysed surgeons’ movements during procedures and collected data from simulated robot-assisted operations.

Five depth cameras mounted on the ceiling of the experimental operating theatre at TUM University Hospital in Munich generate a three-dimensional digital image of the room 15 times per second –a digital twin of the surgical environment. At the operating table stands Prof. Dirk Wilhelm, Head of the Chair of Medical Robotics at TUM and a surgeon and senior physician at TUM University Hospital. He is wearing a suit fitted with motion markers on the joints and head, tracked by an infrared system with ten cameras. Microphones record and spatially locate conversations within the surgical team, while additional physiological data is collected to measure stress levels among staff.

The aim of this sensor data and the digital twin is to improve surgical workflows, integrate robotic assistance systems into clinical workflows as efficiently and ergonomically as possible, and ultimately reduce the workload of medical staff. The sensor system developed by Prof. Wilhelm’s research group for minimally invasive interdisciplinary therapeutic intervention (MITI) is now being used for the first time in Germany to collect data from a real operating room environment. “In the next step, this data could help improve the use of robots in surgery,” says Prof. Wilhelm. All data collection in the operating room requires the consent of patients and all parties involved.

Testing robotic systems in routine surgical procedures

For robotic systems to assist in future operating rooms, researchers will need more than sensor data alone. The experimental operating theatre therefore serves not only as a data collection platform, but also as a test environment for robot-assisted procedures on anatomical models – in other words, testing collaboration with robotic assistants.

As part of the ForNeRo research project, the researchers investigated three common minimally invasive procedures: gallbladder surgery, inguinal hernia repair, and sigmoid resection, the partial removal of the large intestine. Two robotic systems were used in each procedure. The first, Solo Assist II, held and positioned the endoscope. The second was MIRO, a modular surgical robot developed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) that surgeons can control using a joystick and other interfaces. During a simulated procedure, the surgeons used MIRO to manipulate a miniature gripper, position a plastic mesh during hernia repair and assist with suturing.

A robot can carry out simple tasks

The simulated operations are designed to help configure robotic systems that can assist surgeons during minimally invasive procedures. To evaluate their potential, Max Bergholz from the Chair of Ergonomics at TUM records surgeons’ postures and movements in a sensor-equipped operating room while performing procedures on anatomical models. Participants are also asked to assess the physical and mental strain experienced during the different phases of the operation.

“Surgeons often report back pain caused by maintaining rigid postures for long periods,” says Bergholz. “Earlier systems also required them to operate as though looking into a mirror, forcing them to constantly adapt their spatial orientation.” His goal is to make surgical work as ergonomic and intuitive as possible.

Robotic systems eliminate much of this need for readjustment. They allow surgeons to operate with greater precision, since larger hand movements with the joystick translate into movements of only a few millimetres inside the body. Unlike established systems like the da Vinci Surgical System, the new system also allows the surgeon to remain physically closer to the patient.

The research showed that robotic assistants can already take over simple tasks in an operating room – such as holding an endoscope – without increasing surgeons’ workload. “This allows us to explore how robotic assistants can be seamlessly integrated into clinical workflows,” says Bergholz.

AI is expected to better understand surgical procedures

Looking ahead, TUM Professor Dirk Wilhelm sees potential for using the complex data from the operating theatre for artificial intelligence applications. “Data are a fundamental building block for AI systems in the operating room,” says Wilhelm. “Such systems could automatically recognize which surgical instruments are being used and identify the organs being operated on.”

The initial goal is to improve surgical workflows and planning processes. In the longer term, AI could help decide when a robotic assistant would be beneficial.