STMicroelectronics and Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna of Pisa are getting together to establish a laboratory in Catania in Italy. The joint laboratory is to be used for the development of humanoid robotic research. It will feature innovations in BioRobotics, smart systems and micro-electronics.
Paolo Dario, Director of the BioRobotics Institute of the school said that the joint laboratory will help advance our efforts in creating the next generation of intelligent systems integrating microelectronics, mechanics and computing technologies.
Carmelo Papa, Senior Executive Vice President, General Manager of ST’s Industrial & Multisegment Sector, and Chairman of the European Platform on Smart Systems is also pleased with the idea. He said that they were confident that the new lab will serve as a model of excellence in industrial-academic cooperation, translating rich R&D potential into globally competitive, marketable results.
Over the last five years ST and Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna have collaborated to develop and promote advanced robotics and 'smart' systems based on ST's semiconductor products and technologies. The experts now plan to work on humanoid robots.
These will be soft-bodied robots made of shape-memory materials capable of acting and interacting physically, emotionally, socially and safely with humans. They are also in collaboration with medical institutions and a toy manufacturer to develop smart toys equipped with motion and pressure sensors. These toys will be used for early diagnosis of neuro-developmental delays and autistic pathologies in small children.