APRIL project heading into final research phase
The H2020 APRIL project, which is working on the creation of an innovative robotic system for the handling of deformable and flexible materials used in sectors as diverse as footwear manufacturing, the meat industry and small household appliances, is heading into the final year of research with very positive results with a view to meeting its final objective in March 2024.
The year is off to a strong start in the framework of the H2020 APRIL project. In the first days of January, INESCOP and the Italian partner, SSSA- Scuola Superiore de Sant' Anna, were carrying out tests with the pilot robotic hand that the technology centre has in its facilities in Elda. It is worth mentioning that this robotic assistant is expected to carry out the operation of bagging the insoles and sealing the bags.
Partnership meeting in Madrid
After almost 3 years of research, the project partners met in Madrid on 27 January to share all the progress made during the previous months and to prepare the review of the second period of the project by the Project Officer of the European Union, with positive results. Now it is time to face the last year where all the modules developed so far, which constitute the APRIL system, will be integrated in order to achieve the objectives at the beginning of 2024.
System verification
Next March, INESCOP will receive in its facilities the visit of the technological partners of the project and will proceed to verify the APRIL system in the use case of insole bagging, which is one of the most advanced in terms of integration.
Furthermore, if everything is progressing adequately, an event with the entire consortium will be held before the summer period. This event will be the prelude to the integration of the different final demonstrators from September 2023.