Robohub.org
 

Research Group from University of Zurich wins KUKA Innovation Award


by
10 June 2014



share this:
Kuka-award
The team collect their award at the Automatica fair in Munich, June 2014.

Four researchers from Davide Scaramuzza’s Robotics and Perception Group at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, have won the prestigious KUKA Innovation Award (20.000 EUR) for their project “Collaboration of Flying and Ground Robots for Search-And-Rescue Missions” at the AUTOMATICA trade fair in Munich.

The ongoing project is part of the “Rescue Scenario” of NCCR Robotics, where researchers across Switzerland work together to develop robots that can be used to make disaster relief efforts safer and more efficient. This specific element of the Rescue Scenario involves teams of flying robots working together with ground robots. The idea behind the project is that, in a cluttered environment after a disaster, it may be too dangerous for human rescuers to enter a building, and so robots may be utilized. However, in such environments both flying and ground robots suffer from limitations: by working together, the flying robots can be used as the eye for the ground robot.

For the competition last week, the team presented the collaboration of a quadrotor and a KUKA youBot in a mock-up disaster scenario. The quadrotor is first sent to make a map of the scene, i.e., detecting obstacles and people who need help. Then, it commands the youBot to these people to deliver a first-aid package. From the air, it can tell the youBot where to go and which obstacles to remove on the way.

Have a look at the demo showed at AUTOMATICA!



tags: , , , , , ,


NCCR Robotics





Related posts :



Robot Talk at the Smart City Robotics Competition

  22 Oct 2025
In a special bonus episode of the podcast, Claire chatted to competitors, exhibitors, and attendees at the Smart City Robotics Competition in Milton Keynes.

Robot Talk Episode 129 – Automating museum experiments, with Yuen Ting Chan

  17 Oct 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Yuen Ting Chan from Natural History Museum about using robots to automate molecular biology experiments.

What’s coming up at #IROS2025?

  15 Oct 2025
Find out what the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems has in store.

From sea to space, this robot is on a roll

  13 Oct 2025
Graduate students in the aptly named "RAD Lab" are working to improve RoboBall, the robot in an airbag.

Robot Talk Episode 128 – Making microrobots move, with Ali K. Hoshiar

  10 Oct 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Ali K. Hoshiar from University of Essex about how microrobots move and work together.

Interview with Zahra Ghorrati: developing frameworks for human activity recognition using wearable sensors

and   08 Oct 2025
Zahra tells us more about her research on wearable technology.

Women in robotics you need to know about 2025

  06 Oct 2025
This global list celebrates women's impact across the robotics ecosystem and globe.

Robot Talk Episode 127 – Robots exploring other planets, with Frances Zhu

  03 Oct 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Frances Zhu from the Colorado School of Mines about intelligent robotic systems for space exploration.



 

Robohub is supported by:




Would you like to learn how to tell impactful stories about your robot or AI system?


scicomm
training the next generation of science communicators in robotics & AI


 












©2025.05 - Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence