Tamara Aguilar, AIJU project manager: "ROCCA seeks to bring robotics, artificial intelligence and digital twins to the most complex industrial environments with the support of CDTI Innovation"

AIJU was born more than four decades ago specialized in the development and safety of toys and children's products. Since then, the institute has progressively expanded its activity and technological capabilities to respond to increasingly diverse industrial challenges. "This evolution responds to a clear vision: to accompany companies in their transformation processes and convert scientific-technical knowledge into applicable solutions, competitive and with real impact," explains Tamara Aguilar, project manager of AIJU.

This journey has led AIJU to take on a new challenge as coordinator of ROCCA, a network of excellence of which the AIN, AIR Institute, AITIIP, CETEM, INESCOP and VICOMTECH are part. The initiative integrates the knowledge of these centers to develop applicable solutions in contexts in which inspecting, maintaining or repairing equipment or structures present difficulties or risks.

Anticipating the Problems

In certain facilities, waiting for a failure to act may have significant consequences. A breakdown or maintenance intervention can force an infrastructure to stop, affecting its operation and, in some cases, also the safety of the people who work in it.

Technology integrated by the ROCCA Network for the immersive and safe control of robotic systems in high-risk environments

ROCCA proposes to anticipate these situations through tools capable of detecting possible incidents and helping professionals in the tasks of inspection and repair. For this, the project is committed to "a more predictive, automated and assisted maintenance, based on data and intelligent technologies, that allows to anticipate failures, optimize resources, reduce intervention times and minimize the exposure of staff to risk environments", says Tamara Aguilar. The aim is to intervene before the problem arises and to facilitate more efficient planning of actions.

Robots, data and extended reality

The differential value of ROCCA is precisely that it does not propose a single technology to address these challenges. The network integrates different tools to cover different stages of the process, from obtaining information to simulating and executing certain tasks.

In this way, robots can be in charge of inspecting places that are difficult to access, while artificial intelligence analyzes the data obtained to detect patterns or possible incidents. Digital twins allow virtually different scenarios to be tested before intervening on a real system, and immersive technologies can help train or assist professionals. Advanced manufacturing completes the assembly with new options for repairing or replacing components.

The desired result is to evolve from mainly manual and reactive maintenance models to systems capable of helping to decide what to do, when to do it and how to do it with more information.

Seven centres, the same technological capacity

Coordinated by AIJU, the ROCCA Network brings together seven technology centers with different specializations that complement each other within the project. AIJU concentrates capabilities in robotics, AI, digitalization and immersive technologies; AIN, in industrial automation, advanced manufacturing and intelligent systems; AIR Institute, in AI, data analysis and autonomous systems; AITIIP, in advanced robotics and industrial processes; CETEM, in advanced manufacturing and new processes; INESCOP, in artificial vision, sensoric and automation; and VICOMTECH, in AI, computer vision, simulation and digital twins.

"This combination of capabilities allows us to develop more complete and transferable solutions to the industry, integrating technologies ranging from data capture and analysis to simulation, decision-making and autonomous task execution," says Tamara Aguilar.

Members of the ROCCA network

Cooperation also seeks to prevent the knowledge generated from being limited to the field of research. The objective is that the results can be validated and subsequently transferred to companies that need to incorporate these technologies.

From knowledge to new opportunities for companies

The next step will be to turn these developments into solutions that can be incorporated into real industrial processes. Although ROCCA works especially in the areas of security and defense, its results can also find applications in civilian sectors where it is necessary to automate tasks, improve inspection or reduce worker exposure.

This dual character broadens the range of technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence or digital twins. A solution developed to inspect a structure in a defense environment, for example, can subsequently be adapted to industrial facilities where it is also necessary to access hard-to-reach areas or perform certain tasks remotely.

"The aim is to make it easier for companies to incorporate advanced technologies, reducing technical barriers and accelerating their adoption," summarizes the project manager.

The impulse of the Cervera Network

For a project of this magnitude, maintaining a coordinated long-term research strategy requires resources and a stable collaborative structure. "The support of the CDTI Innovation through the Red Cervera program has been key to promote an initiative as ambitious as the ROCCA project and to move forward in the development of a road map in the field of dual technologies," emphasizes Tamara Aguilar.

For the manager, this instrument allows to strengthen the capacities of the technological centers and advance in strategic lines with a perspective that goes beyond a punctual development. “The coordination of the Network represents a key step in our trajectory and strengthens our positioning as a driving force for collaborative R&D,” he adds.

Towards an industry 5.0

Currently, ROCCA is in its initial stages, with the seven centers focused on defining the architectures, use cases and technological lines that will inform the subsequent developments. From there, the project will move towards concrete solutions that can be tested, integrated and progressively brought closer to the business fabric.

Robotic arm designed to perform inspection and maintenance tasks without human risk

For AIJU, coordinating the network means converting that diversity of knowledge into developments with industrial application. "Our role will be to contribute to the development of innovative solutions that allow greater autonomy, efficiency and security in complex industrial environments," says Aguilar.

The project seeks to establish a technological basis that allows to consolidate the results obtained and facilitate their transfer to the productive fabric. "In the long term, we hope that ROCCA will contribute to strengthening the position of Spain as a national and European reference in advanced technologies linked to Industry 5.0. And above all, these capabilities generate a lasting impact, both in the field of security and defense and in other strategic industrial sectors, favoring an industry that is more competitive, resilient and prepared to face the challenges of the future," he concludes.

CDTI Innovation

The Center for Technological Development and Innovation, CDTI E.P.E. It is the innovation agency of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, whose objective is the promotion of technological innovation in the business environment. The mission of the CDTI is to ensure that the Spanish business fabric generates and transforms scientific and technical knowledge into globally competitive, sustainable and inclusive growth.

 
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