The ERNET project

In order to further develop in Europe robot technology, which constitutes a key factor in the development of new production techniques in industry as well as of advanced solutions in non-traditional areas such as space, agriculture, underwater, service and personal operations, large efforts are required both from a technological and a methodological point of view, with a particular emphasis on integration of different fields. Moreover, promoting people´s mobility, particularly at the post-doctoral level, in the context of trans-national laboratory networks is a very effective way to offer to young researchers the best possible education in a stimulating environment. In particular for Europe, but not exclusively, this approach constitutes also a necessary platform on which international industrial competitiveness can be durably based. Such networking and mobility concepts appear to be particularly appropriate in robotics, where many different technologies and complementary methodologies, which are unlikely to be developed in only one center, have to be integrated. The ERNET (European Robotics Network) project was established by the European Union Commission based on these concepts. The network includes 28 laboratories from 10 European countries. The article briefly reviews the main activities of ERNET, gives some technical results, and outlines a perspective for exploiting the ERNET initiative