RobotLab LTH Infrastructure

RobotLab LTH

Member of euRobotics, thereby part of the EU robotics platform SPARC, with active EC involvements, see https://www.eu-robotics.net/sparc/about/index.html. Common infrastructure is shared with WASP graduate school (mobile robots, flying vehicles), see http://wasp-sweden.org/.

RobotLab at LTH is a close collaboration between the Dept. Computer Science and the Dept. Automatic Control. Our main research is on autonomous robotic systems, with special focus on motion and compliance control, control system architectures, different sensor fusion problems, robot vision, and reinforcement learning. Our robotics hardware include modified and extended ABB robot control systems, Kuka IIWA robots, Universal Robots robots, a mobile robotic manipulator based on a MIR platform and a UR5e, a Boston Dynamics SPOT robot, and more. RobotLab LTH has a long history of industrial collaboration. The lab had also spin-offs, e.g., Cognibotics AB and RiACT A/S. RobotLab LTH organizes a yearly outreach event for schools (a robotics week) attracting several hundred students each year in the context of the annual euRobotics Week. In addition, we also participate in other outreach activities like Her Tech Future, Kulturnatten, and similar events. RobotLab LTH is an Open Door lab that offers companies access to advanced robotics hardware and know-how. RobotLab LTH has hosted several Master Thesis projects in cooperation with industry, e.g., ABB, Axis, B&R, Modelon, Cognibotics, Combine, Crazyflie, TWI Ltd., Tetra Pak, and many more.

In RobotLab LTH there are ABB IRB120, IRB140, IRB2400, and YuMi with the IRC5 control system. Hardware interfaces have been developed to create an open system suitable for motion-control experiments and sensor feedback. A parallel-kinematic manipulator with a large working volume is available. A specialized robot for applications within construction robotics called Bettan is also available in the lab. We also have a KUKA IIWA dual-arm robot, and a UR5e and a Franka Emika Panda robot. Several mobile robot systems are also available: a Spot four-legged robot from Boston Dynamics, a MIR 200 wheeled mobile platform with a UR5e on top, and a mobile platform based on the Fraunhofer IPA Care-o-Bot/Rob-at-Work.

Public software repositories related to robot control.

Robot cells with industrial robots, as well as mobile robots, are provided as is, with full programmability. External partners may extend features by providing additional resources, such as sensors or robot hands. Research engineers are supporting LU-based research projects and developments for teaching.

Robotics Laboratory is co-owned by Dept. Computer Science and Dept. Automatic Control.