RESEARCH NEWS
NeurOSmart human-machine collaboration
How can we achieve intelligent teamwork between humans and robots in production? The Fraunhofer NeurOSmart technology platform combines sensor technology with AIsupported data processing and energy-efficient chips that mimic the way that the human brain works.
Robotics technology that not only performs simple tasks but also supports humans in all their tasks is among the key technologies in industrial manufacturing. But this requires robots to master complex movements, execute commands and to maintain safe distances from humans at all times. Fraunhofer researchers have now made this form of collaboration between humans and machines possible in the NeurOSmart flagship project.
The researchers are combining several technologies: a sensor system with LIDAR lasers that continuously monitors the work area shared by humans and robots, AIsupported chips that evaluate signals directly in the sensor system and neuromorphic chip technology that functions like the human brain and is therefore highly energy-efficient.
NeurOSmart was coordinated by Fraunhofer ISIT.“ Together with our project partners, we have further developed the technologies and integrated them in an overall system. Collaboration with the machine is risk-free for
humans,” said Shanshan Gu-Stoppel, Head of Optical Systems, Fraunhofer ISIT and Honorary Professor of Microtechnology at the FH Westküste University of Applied Sciences in Heide, Germany.
“ NeurOSmart’ s technologies not only make industrial production more agile and efficient, they also make the factory floor a safe, creative and human-friendly place for all employees,” he added.
The NeurOSmart components and methods
Above: The movable MEMS mirrors project the LIDAR laser across the entire work area. The reflection of the laser pulses creates a high-resolution 3D image of the work area shared by humans and robots. Left: NeurOSmart technology enables close collaboration between humans and robots.
form a standardised technology platform. Industrial customers could develop their own applications for their individual scenarios.
In the future, NeurOSmart’ s energy-efficient technologies and the resulting longer battery life could also find possible applications in drones or sensor systems for agriculture. n
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. fraunhofer. de
Agentic AI project for manufacturing
Lantek, a sheet metal software company, and the Basque technology centre IKERLAN( based in Spain) are collaborating on the GALAXIA project, an R & D initiative aimed at developing an industrial agentic AI architecture. This will be capable not only of analysing information but also of executing coordinated actions in real production environments, which could be beneficial to the sheet metal industry and other areas of manufacturing.
“ The GALAXIA project, supported by the Basque Government’ s HAZITEK programme, is developing a multi-agent architecture which will enable organisations to retain control over their data, processes and knowledge. The project promotes the local development of advanced artificialintelligence capabilities applied to industry. This approach reduces dependence on external technology platforms while ensuring control over critical data and processes,” said Lantek.
“ We act as project coordinator while IKERLAN participates as technological lead.
GALAXIA represents a conceptual shift beyond traditional conversational AI models. It moves from systems that simply respond to queries towards architectures capable of acting, coordinating tasks and operating as a structured team within production processes,” added Lantek.
The approach is based on agentic artificial intelligence, where specialised agents collaborate in a coordinated manner to solve complex problems. Each agent performs a specific function( whether analysis, planning, supervision or execution) and operates in synchronisation with the others to achieve a shared objective. This structure enables
continuous data processing, real-time decision-making and a transition from a purely assistive role to the autonomous execution of complete tasks in industrial environments.
The platform’ s design allows this coordinated-agent logic to be applied across multiple industrial sectors, facilitating scalability and technology transfer. In practice, this may translate into automatically generating a quotation upon receiving an email, triggering product replenishment in retail environments through computer vision or assisting in the resolution of technical incidents without manual intervention in repetitive tasks.
The consortium also includes companies from strategic sectors such as Eroski; Mondragon Assembly; Goizper; Xabet; Ubikare; Lis Data and Fagor Arrasate, which are validating the technology through specific use cases. n
www. lantek. com
18 | ismr. net | ISMR May 2026