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TORNADO Research Project

Pioneering Robotics Innovation with TORNADO Project

Hankamp Gears is proud to be one of three industrial use-case partners validating the groundbreaking robotics solutions developed within the TORNADO project, funded by the European Union Horizon Europe programme (grant agreement Nº101189557).

At Hankamp, the pilot will take place in our shipping department, where challenges such as high product flow, limited space, human traffic, and the use of pallet trucks and forklifts make traditional automation solutions impractical. Existing technologies—like cobots, overhead cranes, and mobile robots—often fail due to their rigidity, high costs, or lack of user acceptance by operators.

TORNADO’s Vision at Hankamp

The ultimate goal is to develop a multifunctional and adaptive platform for Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) with advanced loco-manipulation skills, capable of:

  • Advanced Navigation in dynamic real-world spaces.
  • Manipulation of small, soft, and deformable objects (SSDs) with unprecedented precision.
  • Natural human-robot interaction for example through gestures and conversation, leveraging zero-shot generalization via Foundation Models (FMs).

A Solution Designed for People

This advanced system will not only transform our operations but will be designed with our employees in mind. To ensure its success, the system needs to:

  • Be flexible, capable of handling various tasks, and not confined to a fixed position.
  • Feature adaptable end-of-arm tooling to handle products ranging from >Ø5mm and a few grams to Ø600mm and 25 kg.
  • Involve end-users in designing intuitive interfaces that match how they prefer to work.
  • Support—not burden—operators, creating solutions with high acceptance and usability.

Preparing for the Future

As part of TORNADO, Hankamp is exploring what works best for SMEs like ours. Whether humanoid robots or mobile cobots hold the key, this pilot will provide vital insights for the future of automation in dynamic and complex environments.

We’re excited to be at the forefront of robotics innovation together with the TORNADO consortium consisting of:

Creating a collaborative future where cutting-edge technology meets real-world challenges!

Stay tuned as we share our journey with TORNADO and the lessons learned along the way.

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