The Working Session Will Take Place on January 31 at the University of Coimbra.
The Institute of Systems and Robotics at the University of Coimbra will host the first in-person working session of 2025, bringing together the partners of the European REMAIN project (Robotic REMAnufacturing of Deformable INdustrial Products). During this transnational meeting, participants will review the progress made since the project’s launch in January 2024.
The session will begin with a panel focused on the systems and methodologies applied in REMAIN to detect product damage, aiming to promote remanufacturing. Specifically, discussions will cover conventional detection methods and AI-based techniques, particularly in database generation and labeling, as well as the mechanical requirements of the process.
The REMAIN project is led by INESCOP – the Spanish Footwear Technology Center and involves the Spanish Footwear Industry Federation (FICE), AIDA CCI, and the Universities of Alicante, Clermont Auvergne INP, Coimbra, and Zaragoza. Participating companies include Automatic Control Numerical SL (Spain) and SMA-RTY (France), with the social association Proyecto Lázaro as a collaborating entity.
Another session will focus on the progress of metasensors being developed for product localization and damage identification, connecting with robotic perception and control. These technologies will enable object recognition, tracking, and mono- or bi-robotic manipulation. Additionally, recurring product defects detected in samples will be discussed, along with the development of an eco-design guide.
The program will include a review of the project’s advancements and its visibility across communication channels, including social media and scientific publications. In the final part of the transnational meeting, discussions will delve into the final architecture of the pilot system to be created, highlighting the use of HW/SW platforms such as Ubuntu 24, ROS 2, and Dockers.
The partners will also define the next steps to advance REMAIN’s mission: to promote remanufacturing and reintroduce products into the market, extending their lifecycle in the footwear, textile, and furniture industries. This European initiative is part of the Interreg Sudoe Program (South-West European Territorial Cooperation Program), which supports regional development by co-financing transnational projects through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
