Fraunhofer IAO
About
About Fraunhofer IAO
Fraunhofer IAO conducts applied research on work systems, digital transformation and human-technology interaction. Its robotics projects examine how people share tasks with machines in factories, service environments and public spaces, connecting technical design with ergonomics, accessibility and organizational change.
AQUIAS tested collaborative robotics for production workers with disabilities, while ZEN-MRI studies understandable and socially acceptable service-robot behaviour in urban settings. Researchers build prototypes, run workplace trials and develop implementation methods with companies and public partners. Fraunhofer IAO contributes applied research and technology transfer to these programmes.
Team
- Wilhelm Bauer - Director - Senior leader for Fraunhofer IAO applied research organization.
Timeline
Events
- 2026-04-13 - Partnership - Fraunhofer IAO announces Applied Robotics Alliance
The alliance is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2026 and run through August 31, 2027. Participants will work through five application sprints covering use-case discovery, requirements, technology selection, prototyping and implementation preparation. The programme includes shared R&D roadmaps, prototype development and access to the Future Robotics showroom.
Source - 2025-06-02 - Partnership - Audi and research partners launch a future picking-process program testing AI, sensor technology, and robotics
Audi said it launched the Automotive Initiative 2025 together with Fraunhofer IAO and other research and technology partners to develop the picking process of the future. The program was set to test artificial intelligence, sensor technology, and robotics in a designated production area at Böllinger Höfe. This was a named, production-oriented research collaboration focused on bringing robotics and AI into readiness for automotive manufacturing workflows.
Source
Relations
Relationships
- AUDI AG
Production Research Partner - Automotive Initiative 2025: future picking process with AI, sensors, and robotics at Böllinger Höfe (Audi media center).
Context
Comparable profiles
- X-Humanoid
stack adjacency - Research Institute
- University of Stuttgart
stack adjacency - Research Institute
- National Robotarium
stack adjacency - Research Institute
Context tags
- Human-Robot Collaboration - Workflow
- Applied robotics research institute - Peer Group - Fraunhofer IAO researches applied robotics and human-robot collaboration.
- Human-robot work research - Peer Group - Fraunhofer IAO researches work systems and human-robot interaction.
- Applied workplace robotics research - Workflow - Fraunhofer IAO researches workplace robotics and automation adoption.
- Research institute - Stack Layer - Fraunhofer IAO is an applied research institute rather than robot product company.
- Applied Robotics Research - Peer Group
- Robotics Adoption Infrastructure - Peer Group
- German Industry - Customer Environment
- Humanoid Robot Evaluation - Workflow
- Industrial Innovation Networks - Stack Layer
- Research labs - Customer Environment - Fraunhofer IAO operates as a research laboratory.