"We are good, but we must get better”
Jens Kotlarski, from the company voraus robotik, about software as the innovation driver for robotics and the development of the industry in the region
About the person
Dr.-Ing. Jens Kotlarski is a mechanical engineer who earned a PhD in 2012 at Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) with a thesis on robotics, doing his research at the Institute of Mechatronic Systems. While still at the university, in 2012 he founded FORWARDttc, one of the first companies in the region to specialise in robotics. He left the LUH in 2017. He was co-founder and CEO of Yuanda Robotics, and in 2022 he became CEO of voraus robotik.
You know both worlds: research and industry. What is the fundamental difference?
Universities focus on pure research and prototypes, without necessarily prioritising specific implementation, even when cooperating with industry. Companies have to ensure that ideas are turned into products which are financially viable and ready to be brought to market. This also includes aspects that have little to do with research, such as test series, evaluation and certification.
That is all time-consuming, so you had to decide between university and industry.
For a long time, I managed to do both. I was still involved in research at uni when I founded FORWARDttc with colleagues from the institute in Hannover. The aim was to transfer knowledge and technology from research to industry. There we implemented specific applications, among others for the automotive industry as well as well-known robot manufacturers. An investor then helped us to start up another company as a spin-off from FORWARDttc.
That was in 2017 and the investor was Yuanda Robotics, Hannover’s first robot manufacturer, a company that now no longer exists as such.
We had up to 90 employees working at two production sites in China, and also in Hannover, where we had the company headquarters together with the research and development activities. Following years of development, our collaborative robot Yu was launched successfully on the market in 2021. Due to a series of unfortunate circumstances which eventually led to a lack of investment resources, we were sadly no longer able to continue with Yuanda Robotics.
But you and others kept going: you purchased the bankruptcy assets and founded voraus robotik. This is the first company in Hannover to develop robotics software, is that right?
Yes, we took the technology and software of the Yuanda robot and worked with the existing team to develop a modern, hardware-agnostic operating system. This might possibly put us in the history books.
Up to now, robots have usually operated with type-dependent specialised systems without graphic user interface. Why are you changing this?
Because these systems are inconvenient to operate. Because the programming for every type of robot has to be learnt from scratch. This consumes resources, is inflexible, time-consuming and expensive. We have therefore developed an operating system that is like Android: standardised, open and with a graphic user interface and apps that can be downloaded.
In other words, to get the robot to screw something, the operator downloads a screwing app. To get the robot to weld something, the operator swaps the fitting and installs the welding app?
Exactly. There are separate apps for every use, whether material is being processed (welding, turning or planing) or moved (sorting, assembling, loading). These apps fit all robot types. The specialised apps permit optimum control. The graphic user interface means operating staff don’t need to go through complicated training.
When will the software be available on the market?
At the moment we are working with various robot manufacturers to test integration and application. The software will be supplied with the robots from these manufacturers in early 2023.
Where do you see the Region Hannover today when it comes to robotics?
As far as education goes it must be at the forefront. In this respect, the Region Hannover is very active. But to keep up with other robotics locations such as Munich, a great deal more commitment is needed, also on the state level. We need to have inspiring people with brilliant brains at the universities, and more support for research. I would also recommend pooling the various programmes aiming to encouraging and promote young talent and skilled workers. We are good but we must get better – and far more venture capital is needed.
Which significance should be given to collaborative robotics? zukommen?
Cobots, or collaborative robots, have special sensors that make them more attentive to people in their vicinity. That is their strength and their charm, particularly in educational work with children and youngsters. But as far as industry is concerned, they are still just a niche aspect. As a rule, cobots only work directly with people during the initial setting up phase. After this, they are on their own again. Conventional robots still account for 90% of the market; for the foreseeable future, they will continue to be the focus of activities, in industry at least.
But they must become more flexible to shorten commissioning and retooling times.
. . . . . . because these are massive cost drivers! Robots themselves have become less expensive, but preparing them for specific use consumes scarce resources, above all highly qualified programmers and commissioning engineers. This is where our software comes in, and also where artificial intelligence is gaining ground.
In combination with modern sensors, we can easily make robots capable of distinguishing between colours and shapes and also between different kinds of surfaces. In this way, any robot can be prepared for new tasks, or adapted to on-going production without complex, protracted programming. Modern production needs this flexibility and speed.
Neater incisions!
Surgery with OP robots by avateramedical
In 2020, avateramedical, a company from Jena, set up a subsidiary named avateramedical Digital Solutions in Hannover to forge ahead with developing solutions for robot-assisted minimally invasive surgical procedures. One particular focus is the development of software for control, image processing and integration of the surgical system in the operating theatre. “The surgeon in the operating theatre controls the robot with extreme certainty and precision using a joystick and 3D imaging, as with the Da Vinci system”, explains Tobias Ortmaier, who for many years was head of the LUH Institute of Mechatronic Systems. But in contrast to Da Vinci, the company advocates disposable instruments to save the staffing costs involved in hygienic re-use.
Furthermore, the aim is for the new generation of robots to be used for thoracic and other kinds of surgery as well as in gynaecological and urological procedures, and to reveal blood vessels concealed in the tissue. Since 2022, an avateramedical robot has been in use in the urology department of Vinzenz hospital.
Better hearing!
Robot-assisted use of cochlear implants
In 2018, a team of inventors including robotic researcher Tobias Ortmaier, hearing researcher Thomas Lenarz and the computer scientist Samuel John worked together with an implant manufacturer to found OtoJig for safe, cost-effective cochlear implant surgery. A specially developed parallel robot produces individually customised patient templates in the immediate vicinity of the operating theatre. “These templates replace stressful open surgery with minimally invasive drilling of the puncture channel; the surgical drill is then guided with great precision along a defined trajectory to just in front of the inner ear”, explains CEO Samuel John. A pilot study is currently in progress at Hannover Medical School in which the first seven robotically produced templates are being successfully used on humans. The market launch is planned for 2024.
The Robotics Region Hannover at a glance
Research:
Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) with the Institute of Mechatronic Systems (imes), the Institute of Assembly Technology (Match) and the Institute of Automatic Control (IRT). Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HsH) with Faculty I – Electrical Engineering and Information Technology and its research cluster Industry 4.0, as well as Faculty II – Mechanical Engineering and the laboratory for industrial robots.
Companies focussing on robotic:
avateramedical Digital Solutions (surgical robots). Bitmotec (software for networking production and robots). Engelking Schweißtechnik (robot welding). Fleertech (sewer rehabilitation robotics). Götting (automatic guided vehicle systems). ibk IngenieurConsult (industrial automation, plant planning and construction, use of robotics). OtoJig (robot-assisted use of cochlear implants). Synaos (intra-logistics/AGV). voraus robotik (robotics software). TEWISS – Technik und Wissen (LUH company; engineering services, special mechanical engineering, automation, interface between science and business). Vision Lasertechnik (Vision Robotics: consulting, robotics integration and adaptation
Start-up fundin:
through imes for students at LUH since 2019 in the Tutorium “Student Accelerator Robotics and Automation (SARA)” and for young companies through the “Robotics Incubator” funded by the Region Hannover. (Projects closed in 2022)
Education and implementation programmes:
As part of the “Robotics City Hannover“ brand, the Region Hannover supports a large number of programmes for schools, vocational training and universities through to business companies. The “Zukunftshaus MINT” (Future House STEM) is another programme that is run directly by Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Programmes are also offered by Hannover Chamber of Skilled Crafts (HWK), Hannover Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) and Deutsche Messe (Technology Academy, together with the Volkswagen Academy) and Hannover Medical School (for robotics in surgery).
Roberta RegioZentrum:
Aims to inspire school children aged from 9 to 19 years, gaining their interest in robotics as well as science and mathematics (STEM), with ongoing learning-by-playing programmes in the premises of the Robot Factory at Leibniz University, with an option to take part in international competitions and to develop and implement its own competition, the Roberta Challenge. Schools are also provided with support on site: Roberta network schools receive a start-up set of robot kits, with special robotics courses for the teachers.
Projekthaus Zukunft MINT:
Project of Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HsH) for school children of all ages and for teachers, with regular courses held at HsH and in schools.
Robot Factory:
Training facility run by Leibniz University and the Region Hannover for students of different disciplines, school children, teachers, companies and apprentices. The programme includes workshops for newcomers and challenging hackathons, where students work on new applications in the field of human/robot collaboration and mobile robotics, cooperating with companies in some cases. Furthermore, the students’ “luhbots” robotics team, supported by the Robot Factory, also takes part in global robotics competitions such as the RoboCup. The Robot Factory cooperates closely with the Roberta RegioZentrum to make it possible for students and school children to learn together.
Zentrum für Robotik im Gesundheitswesen (ZeRiG):
In 2021, a new second robot factory emerged in Hannover in the premises of KRH Nordstadt hospital. Since 2022, nurses and other medical staff have been introduced to the possibilities of using robots to assist with nursing and laboratory activities, with workshops and CCI courses offered by the Robokind Foundation (the courses are currently being trialled) In addition, the ZeRiG also acts as a training centre for other programmes run by the Robokind Foundation.
Robospace:
The Robospace programme with its coaches, students and engineers from the LUK brings robotics to many schools in the region and beyond. The non-profit company is the educational provider for various robotics projects offered by the region and by the state of Lower Saxony. The Roberta RegioZentrum is organised by Robospace.
Robokind Foundation:
The non-profit Robokind Foundation brings the approach of a consistent training concept to the whole state of Lower Saxony. It supports efforts to set up robot factories following Hannover’s example: in Lüneburg and Wilhelmshaven in conjunction with local universities, in Neustadt a. Rübenberge in cooperation with Neustadt Vocational College. The foundation offers workshops and online learning formats that are free of charge, as well as the “robot operating licence”, together with 50-hour subsidised CCI courses, developed by the foundation itself, in other words, robotics courses with a CCI certificate. In these courses, staff from the foundation train apprentices and skilled workers to recognise and implement the use of cobots in their companies. On the other hand, the shorter Roboscouts courses are free of charge and begin in 2023. They give apprentices the necessary training to work in tandem with company staff to push ahead with the use of robotics and AI in the firm. Furthermore, courses are available for teachers at mainstream schools and vocational colleges so that they can then give courses in robotics at their own schools and colleges. The courses also act as career guidance for school children from Year 9.
Robohub Lower Saxony:
Since 2022, the “Innovation Laboratory” run by the economic development agency of the Region Hannover, the LUH subsidiary Tewiss and the LUH Institute of Assembly Technology on the Mechanical Engineering Campus in Garbsen, has been supporting small and medium-sized skilled crafts and production companies win the use of collaborative robots (cobots). Corresponding workshops are offered for skilled workers and senior executives. The Region Hannover provides financial support for corresponding practical implementation.
Header picture: The non-profit Robokind Foundation brings the approach of a consistent training concept to the whole state of Lower Saxony. The foundation also offers workshops and online learning formats that are free of charge. Furthermore, courses are available for teachers at mainstream schools and vocational colleges so that they can then give courses in robotics at their own schools and colleges. The courses also act as career guidance for school children from Year 9. Photo: Robokind Stiftung
