RobotHub – The ZHAW Hub for Robotics
The RobotHub is a virtual organisation of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences that highlights initiatives on the topic of robotics across departments, coordinates projects and channels enquiries.
We develop smart sensors and control algorithms for assistive robots using brain-inspired neuromorphic technology: e.g. event-based vision systems, taktile sensors and robotic controllers. This technology will enable fast real-time perception, cognition, motion planning, and control, required for safe and effective robotic manipulation in human vicinity.
Our collaboration partners in the context of robotics: Neuromorphic Computing Lab at Intel I EURA Robotics I ECSPECD I Prophesee I INIVation I SynSense
Contact: yulia.sandamirskaya@zhaw.ch
We want to facilitate the collaboration of different perspectives in the service robot development, ensuring the effectivity and quality of robot service provisions together and for humans and suitable human-technology interfaces.
Our collaborator partners in the context of robotics: Healthcare organisations (i.e. hospitals, care homes) I Associations I Interest groups
Contact: nicole.gerber@zhaw.ch
We are the contact point for technologies in healthcare. ZHAW GEKONT pools the competences available at the ZHAW that are necessary for the benefit-oriented development, implementation and application of healthcare technologies.
Our collaboration partners in the context of robotics: Digital health center bülach I Healthcare organisations I Associations I Public authorities
Contact: gekont@zhaw.ch
The ZHAW Centre for Artificial Intelligence (CAI) is a hub for excellence in applied AI research and application, focusing on five key areas of research, namely, Autonomous Learning Systems; Computer Vision, Perception and Cognition; Trustworthy AI, and AI Engineering. In the field of autonomous learning systems research, we focus on (deep) reinforcement learning, multi-agent systems, neuro-symbolic AI and embodied AI, aiming to optimise processes and enhance autonomy in various domains including manufacturing, healthcare, retail, transportation, digital farming, weather forecasting, earth observation and many more. We are particularly interested in the design and development of intelligent systems that create a feedback loop between perception (processing of incoming sensor data) and action (execution of actions that influence the environment to be perceived: perception-action loop).
Our collaboration partners in the context of robotics: Stiftung Rieter I NCCR Automation I Zurich UAS Racing I Skyguide I Matternet
Contact: office.cai@zhaw.ch
The Department of Health combines expertise from various aspects of health (occupational therapy, midwifery, nursing, physiotherapy, public health) in teaching and research. Various experts at the department cooperate in the development, implementation, application and teaching of robotic aids, be it assistance robots, social robots or therapy robotics. The focus here is on the user-centred approach so that there is a real benefit for those affected and healthcare professionals.
Our collaboration partners: Hocoma AG I Myoswiss AG I TA-Swiss Stiftung für Technologiefolgen-Abschätzung I VAMED Management und Service Schweiz AG
Contact: Institute of Occupational Therapy I Institute of Nursing I Institute of Physiotherapy
We solve complex problems in applied research projects as an interdisciplinary team at the Institute of Applied Mathematics and Physics (IAMP), collaborating with partners from industry, science, and politics. Our expertise spans research, consulting, services, and education and training, with a particular focus on modeling, quantitative simulation, design, and analysis of complex physical and socio-technical systems. Robotics applications are explored from diverse perspectives across our various labs.
Applied Complex Systems Science
We explore complex socio-technical systems using a variety of mathematical and physical tools with a focus on statistical mechanics, artificial intelligence, bio-inspired and evolutionary engineering. In robotics, we develop innovative solutions such as soft, elastic robots that are lightweight, robust and safer for human interaction, particularly in medical and rehabilitation contexts. By combining physical modelling with AI, we develop algorithms to improve the performance and adaptability of robots.
Safety-Critical Systems Research Lab
We specialize in the development, implementation and verification of complex socio-technical systems for safety-critical applications, with robotics and artificial intelligence at the core of our expertise. We combine advanced technologies with thorough verification processes to ensure that our innovative systems meet the required technical specifications, guarantee user safety and comply with all relevant regulatory requirements for market approval.
Scientific Computing and Algorithmics Lab
We develop customized solutions for complex and computationally intensive problems ranging from nonlinear optimal control, trajectory planning, multi sensor fusion, simulation and optimization of sensors to more general machine learning applications.
Besides refined mathematical/physical modeling we put special emphasis on developing robust, efficient and ready to use implementations of our solutions.
Partners: Zurich Soft Robotics GmbH I Varian Medical Systems Imaging Laboratory GmbH I Haute école de travail social et de la santé I dynamic devices AG / ddrobotec I Zurich UAS Racing
Contact: info@iamp.ch
- 2025 Community event in Switzerland (Details to follow)
- 21./22.11.24 open-i 2024 - The Swiss Innovation Platform
- 15.11.2024 Presentation of Unitree G1 «Roboter-Premiere in Winterthur»
- 01.11.2024 Swiss Robotics Day 2024, Bern (exhibitors)
- 02.09.2024 Workshop at the Digital Health Lab Day 2024 «Co-design of Service Robots in Healthcare: Multiple perspectives and stakeholders» in Winterthur; TRANSFER magazine article
- RobotCare Establishment of an international network for stakeholders in care homes: Contact us
- DIZH Fellowship «Neuromorphic technology for embodied AI»
- Collaboration with WAIYS: «Emerging AI and computing technologies»
- DIZH Founder Call «YuRo: Real-Time 3D vision for robots»
- SNF Practice to Science «Brain-inspired vision technologies for assistive robots»
Projects
Unfortunately, no list of projects can be displayed here at the moment. Until the list is available again, the project search on the ZHAW homepage can be used.
Publications
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2019.
Artificial Intelligence on the flight deck : do RoboPilots dream of electric sheep?.
In:
Zürich meets Seoul: «Human Machine Interaction and Artificial Intelligence in Safety Critical Environments», Seoul, South Korea, 2 October 2019.
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Di Natali, Christian; Poliero, Tommaso; Sposito, Matteo; Graf, Eveline; Bauer, Christoph; Pauli, Carole; Bottenberg, Eliza; De Eyto, Adam; O’Sullivan, Leonard; Hidalgo, Andrés F.; Scherly, Daniel; Stadler, Konrad S.; Caldwell, Darwin G.; Ortiz, Jesús,
2019.
Design and evaluation of a soft assistive lower limb exoskeleton.
Robotica.
37(12), pp. 2014-2034.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0263574719000067
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2018.
Roboter als Therapeuten der Zukunft.
IT for Health.
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Poliero, Tommaso; Di Natali, Christian; Sposito, Matteo; Ortiz, Jesus; Graf, Eveline; Pauli, Carole; Bottenberg, Eliza; De Eyto, Adam; Caldwell, Darwin G.,
2018.
In:
2018 IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft) : 24-28 April 2018.
IEEE RAS International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft 2018), Livorno, Italy, 24-28 April 2018.
IEEE.
pp. 559-564.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1109/ROBOSOFT.2018.8405385
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2015.
Morphological control : applied embodied intelligence in medicine, robotics and IT.
In:
Vortrag ML - Meetup ETH, Zürich, 4. August 2015.