CATEC, the Aerópolis Technology Center, is part of the consortium of a new project that seeks to develop a unified and cyber-secure control system, capable of remotely managing and coordinating the operation of multiple robotic platforms of different brands and capacities

At a crucial moment for the robotics sector in Spain, the PICRAH4.0 project was born to promote the development of innovative technological solutions for the intelligent collaboration of robots in complex industrial environments. This initiative has the potential to improve efficiency in the industry and position Spain as a benchmark in robotics innovation worldwide, which could generate significant economic impacts and strengthen the country’s competitiveness.

CATEC is one of the technological centers of the consortium that will face the challenges posed in the PICRAH4.0 project. Firstly, it will seek to design a platform that safely integrates all the robotic processes identified in a productive environment, using various Artificial Intelligence techniques and algorithms. Despite potential difficulties in transitioning pilots to real products and modeling unexpected events, the consortium has the expertise to overcome these complexities.

Validation in sandboxes, implemented in controlled environments, will be essential to guarantee the viability of the proposed technological solutions. Additionally, robust data management and ongoing collaboration with industry specialists will be critical to mitigating risks and optimizing the platform’s ultimate performance. Finally, the development of new open architectures for the automation of robotic processes and the facilitation of collaboration between them will be addressed with confidence, ensuring the profitability and efficiency of the investment made by the industry.

In the Spanish context, industrial robotics has an important scope in developing projects. Spain is positioned as the fourth European country with the highest number of industrial robotics installations, according to the 2020 report of the International Federation of Robotics. Despite this prominent position, challenges remain in the implementation of robots in various business sectors, with the automotive industry responsible for approximately half of the robots in the country.

The initiative seeks to capitalize on Spain’s experience and leadership in the field of industrial robotics to develop an intelligent and cyber-secure platform that promotes collaboration and efficiency in complex industrial environments. Backed by investment and government support, the project is expected to contribute to the advancement of the robotics sector in Spain and strengthen its position in robotics innovation worldwide.

As indicated by Eduardo Ferrera Cabanillas, head of the Automation and Robotics Unit at CATEC, “we are excited to have such a solid consortium, made up of outstanding companies, promising startups, renowned technology centers and both public and private universities. “With this collaboration, we are prepared to address this ambitious challenge over the next three years.”