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The purpose of this study is to analyze the robot trends of the next generation.

This paper is divided into two sections: the key modern technology on which Europe's robotics industry has built its foundation is described. Then, the next key megatrends were analyzed.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are technologies of major importance for the development of humanity. This time is mature for the evolution of industrial and service robots. The perception of robot use has changed from threading to aiding. The cost of mass production of technological devices is decreasing, while a rich set of enabling technologies is under development. Soft mechanisms, 5G and AI have enabled us to address a wide range of new problems. Ethics should guide human behavior in addressing this newly available powerful technology in the right direction.

The paper describes the impact of new technology, such as AI and soft robotics. The world of work must react quickly to these epochal changes to enjoy their full benefits.

To present a new special explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) robot designed to operate onboard airplanes.

The design approach adopted is multidisciplinary: mechanical and control architectures are conceived simultaneously. Modularity and lifecycle are considered. Motion and EOD tasks are controlled in tele‐operation.

A new EOD robot was designed in detail and it is ready to be built. A dynamic simulator has been written and set‐up, including a virtual reality module. The simulator is used to define the control logics. Simulation results are satisfactory. The simulator can be used as a training platform for the bomb squads.

The intent to keep the cost of the robot low conditioned the selection of the materials. Only aluminium and standard composites (like carbon fibers composites) have been used. A higher degree of freedom of the arm could increase the usability of the system; to limit the cost, the degree of freedom was limited to seven. A decision support system based on an expert system interfaced with the simulator could improve the performance of the system.

A new EOD robot will be built and commercialised soon by the industrial partner Ansaldo Ricerche.

The EOD robots available for use inside aircrafts are discussed. A new system named AirEOD is presented, including mobile platform, dexterous arm and all related design and control issues.

The purpose of this paper is to present new locomotion and steering modules conceived and designed for rescue serpentine robots with enhanced climbing ability. The locomotion modules apply sock locomotion technology that allows great motion efficiency in rubble and confined environment due to the very high propulsion ratio. The steering joints guarantee good orientation dexterity by exploiting actuation based on smart materials.

Great attention and time is dedicated to the design phase, digital mock‐upping and virtual comparative assessment of different solutions. Mechatronic interdisciplinary design methodology including mechanisms analysis, sensory actuation issues and functional materials characterization, control and communication integration has been adopted.

The locomotion modules are revised and updated versions improving climbing ability of the socked locomotion module originally proposed by the authors. New steering modules with high orientation workspace, based on smart actuation, are introduced.

The evaluation of the findings on the field is planned but no experimental result is today available.

Agile serpentine robots are requested for quick and safe rescue and special risky interventions in environments where dense vegetation, rubble and confined spaces prevent human presence. These robots offer invaluable potential help in such risky interventions mainly by being agile in exploring the environment, robust, low cost, reliable, and tele‐operated.

The paper presents original issues in terms of concept and design of instrumental (locomotion and steering) modules for composing modular rescue robots with very high locomotion agility and climbing performances.

The use of thin sheets with 3D geometries is growing in quantity, due to current progress towards life‐cycle design and sustainable production, and growing in geometrical complexity, due to aesthetic and quality concerns. The growth in manufacturing equipment flexibility has not kept pace with these trends. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new reconfigurable fixture to shorten this gap.

The design implements a novel concept of fixturing. Without interrupting the machining process, a swarm of adaptable mobile agents periodically reposition and reconfigure to support the thin‐sheet workpiece near the tool‐point. The technology has been developed by adopting a multi‐disciplinary, life‐cycle approach. Modularity and eco‐sustainability paradigms have informed the design.

The performance of the physical prototype in an industrial scenario is highly satisfactory. Experiments demonstrate the ability of the system to reconfigure while maintaining machining accuracy in scenarios typical for aircraft part production.

Coordination between the machine‐tool numerical control and the fixture control is not complete and its improvement will make the manufacturing process more robust and autonomous.

The system allows reduction of shop‐floor fixturing inventory. Compared to other reconfigurable fixtures, SwarmItFIX is smarter, more flexible, lighter, and offers shorter reconfiguration times, easier set‐up, and better adaptability to a wider range of workpiece shapes.

This is a breakthrough idea, answering the challenges of hyper‐flexible manufacturing and the proliferation of thin‐sheet use. It is of significant value to mass‐customized industry and of special significance for small‐series production.

The purpose of this paper is to present a cost‐effective design for a new rescue robot locomotion module using the principle of a continuous sliding membrane to achieve propulsion ratio (PR) near 1. Such high PR cannot be reached by other locomotion mechanisms that have been proposed.

The paper first introduces the PR as a reference parameter to assess locomotion effectiveness of snake‐ and worm‐like robots. The state‐of‐the‐art is reviewed. A direction to step beyond getting PR near 1 is indicated. The way is by realizing a continuous sliding membrane. Two solutions in this direction which have been recently proposed are recalled. It is shown that none of them can be practically implemented to realize functioning systems with today's available technology. A new design with membrane actuation has been identified and it is described in detail. A prototype has been realized and earliest results and evidence of functioning described.

Critical discussion of the concept of locomotion based on a sliding membrane was conducted. A new design for a robot locomotion module applying this concept was presented. Earliest evidence of functioning and effectiveness of the new system proposed was given.

A new locomotion principle is shown. The state‐of‐the‐art background is discussed. A design to realize the new system in a cost‐effective way is described. The research implications lie in the future development of new mobile robots with higher locomotion capability than today's available systems. Several future research and development directions are shown.

A new generation of more locomotion‐effective snake‐ and worm‐robots, especially for rescue application in rubble, is foreseen. The design proposed takes cost‐effectiveness and practical realizability into account.

The continuous sliding membrane concept had been already proposed but no reasonable realization and actuation solutions had been singled out. The design of the new locomotion system is totally new and contains several breakthrough ideas. A prototype is available proving worthy in concept and functioning. It is cost‐effective and this will allow shorter application to real robots.

To set‐up the study of an unmanned system for refuelling of vehicles, with attention to VOCs recovery.

Presents the architecture of a robotic arm for refuelling. Special attention was allocated to the safety characteristics of the automatic refuelling station assuring the highest protection of people and their safeguard against accidents, preventing any dangerous response of the robotic arm in all the predictable conditions. A concurrent engineering methodology jointly with the life‐cycle approach was adopted for the study and evaluation of the equipment.

Finds that a six DoF arm with a tubular architecture with relocated actuation equipped with a specifically designed filler satisfying stage II rules is suitable to perform the task of safe refuelling of vehicles.

Provides hints to design refuelling stations, also for fluids of the future (e.g. hydrogen).

This robot is a low cost and efficient solution for replacing humans in petrol pump stations, while preserving environmental health. Refuelling will be comfortable and safe even in adverse climate conditions or for dangerous fuels (e.g. hydrogen).

Introduces a robotic arm made with tubes so that cables, pipes and VOCs run inside it and a filler granting easy mating with the cap and VOCs collection.

Aims to discuss how a Cartesian parallel robot with flexure revolute joints can effectively perform miniaturized assembly tasks.

The results of the test and validation phase of a Cartesian parallel robot designed for miniaturized assembly are shown. The workspace volume is a cube with 30 mm side and the target accuracy is 1 μm. Each of the three robot legs has a prismatic‐planar architecture, with a cog‐free linear motor and a planar joint realized using ten superelastic flexure revolute joints. Flexure joints are adopted in order to avoid stick‐slip phenomena and reach high positioning accuracy; their patented construction is relatively low‐cost and allows a quick replacement in case of fatigue failure.

The tests on the prototype are very encouraging: the measured positioning accuracy of the linear motors is ±0.5 μm; on the other hand, the effects of unwanted rotations of flexure joints and hysteresis of the superelastic material are not negligible and must be properly compensated for in order to fully exploit the potential performance of the machine.

The introduction of this robotic architecture can fulfil the needs of a wide range of industrial miniaturized assembly applications, thanks to its accurate positioning in a relatively large workspace. The cost of the machine is low thanks to its extreme modularity.

The combination of Cartesian parallel kinematics, cog‐free linear motors and superelastic flexure revolute joints allows one to obtain very good positioning performance.

The aim of the research is to design, build and test a robot able to autonomously execute slope consolidation tasks.

A multidisciplinary approach has been adopted to solve the problem: mechanical and control architecture have been conceived simultaneously. Modularity and lifecycle are considered. The robot can climb by means of four legs and two ropes. The drilling system is hosted onboard. Drilling process is fully automated, motion can be controlled in tele‐operation.

The performance of the first prototype has satisfied the end‐user; new on‐site tests and improvements are planned.

Roboclimber is cumbersome; both robot transport and on‐site positioning are complex operations. Coordination between legs motion and ropes tensioning is a difficult task.

The system reduces operating costs and working time, while avoiding the human presence in unsafe and harsh environments.

Roboclimber is the first robot able to do heavy duty works on rocky walls