Embodied AI Launches AIR, a Collaborative Wheeled Robot for Factory Environments
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- HumanoidsDaily
Embodied AI, a startup from EPFL, has introduced AIR, a two-armed wheeled robot designed to work alongside factory personnel without requiring a safety cage. CEO Francesco Stella presented AIR at Humanoid Europe 2026 in Munich, with orders expected to open post-unveiling. The robot features a soft, textured design and employs a tendon-driven mechanism for compliance, allowing it to safely interact with humans.
The introduction of AIR is significant as it represents a shift towards more collaborative robots in industrial settings, addressing safety concerns typically associated with traditional industrial robots. By utilizing a lightweight design and compliance features, AIR aims to operate effectively in close proximity to human workers, potentially enhancing productivity in factories. The robot's development aligns with upcoming EU regulations that will require CE marking for collaborative machines by 2027.
Embodied AI plans to achieve CE marking for AIR by 2027, coinciding with the implementation of the EU's Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230. This regulation will impose new requirements for machines designed for collaborative operation near humans. Until AIR receives this certification, it cannot be sold as a finished product in the EU market.
Original report
Swiss Startup Embodied AI Unveils AIR, a Wheeled Robot Built to Work Beside Factory Staff Without a Cage
HumanoidsDaily · [email protected] (Humanoids Daily Staff)This briefing is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting and is provided for industry information and news discovery. The original report and source publication are credited and linked where applicable. RobotToday does not claim ownership of third-party source material.
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