Foto: Daniel WaschnigThe dexterity and delicacy of robots
Hubert Zangl conducts research on sensors: The aim is to allow robots to cooperate more effectively with humans in the future, but also to equip them with “environments enhanced with perception”.
Foto: Daniel WaschnigRobots as surgical assistants
Today, robotic systems are little more than assistants used to hold and aim surgical tools. A research team led by Jan Steinbrener and Stephan Weiss at the University of Klagenfurt is looking to develop new technological options to support surgeons in their work.
Foto: TawanSaklay/AdobestockDeploying autonomous robots to maintain ships’ hulls
Cleaning a ship’s hull currently takes around eight days and costs between 100,000 and 200,000 Euros. A research team that includes Stephan Weiss and Jan Steinbrener from the Department of Smart Systems Technologies aims to use autonomous robots for this task.
Foto: Katharina Tischler-BanfieldGetting drones to improve their self-awareness
Drones are increasingly being deployed as autonomous actors in uncontrolled environments. This requires reliable control and navigation. The research team at the University of Klagenfurt led by Stephan Weiss and Jan Steinbrener, which also includes doctoral student Christoph Böhm, is now working on improving the drone’s self-awareness so that it becomes better at adapting to changing conditions in the future.
zapp2photo/Adobestock.comRobots set to learn how to provide better assistance during surgery
Minimally invasive surgery has many advantages for patients and surgical teams, such as shorter recovery times, lower post-operative complication rates, higher patient acceptance rates and increased cost efficiency. One key area here is interventional radiology, where external imaging equipment is used to guide the surgical instruments through the body. Robots can support in this task. However, those who believe that robots “operate” independently are (as yet) mistaken: The robot systems available today are pure tele-operators or mere assistants for holding and targeting tools; that’s all they can do. Now, a research project led by the University of Klagenfurt wants to explore additional advantages of “operating robots” and increase their autonomy when it comes to supporting surgeons. Read more →
Van der Wolf Images/AdobestockAutonomous robots to inspect and maintain ship hulls and storage tanks
Some 56,000 ships weighing in excess of 500 tons are currently sailing the world’s oceans. For now, their maintenance is carried out by a high number of personnel: The cleaning of a ship’s hull currently takes about eight days and costs between 100,000 and 200,000 euros. The project “BugWright2 Autonomous Robotic Inspection and Maintenance on Ship Hulls and Storage Tanks” financed by EU-HORIZON2020 aims at developing autonomous technical solutions.
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, www.jpl.nasa.govHelicopter flies to Mars: Researcher based in Klagenfurt provided the navigation technology
According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, on 30 July the new Mars Rover “Perseverance” will take off from Cape Canaveral, bound for Mars. Also on board is the first ever “Mars helicopter”, which will undertake exploratory flights. The helicopter is navigated using a technology that Stephan Weiss, Professor at the Department of Smart Systems Technologies, was instrumental in developing.
Europe’s largest Dronehall is open for business
Researchers investigating autonomous drones can now use a cutting-edge research infrastructure at the University of Klagenfurt, measuring up to 150 square meters and a height of ten meters. This is a tremendous boost for the “Drone-Hub Klagenfurt”, already known for hosting some of the world’s top players in the field.
