INTUITIVE will train a generation of early stage researcher (ESR) in ground breaking scientific and technological approaches in haptics. They will develop novel soft biomorphic tactile skin based on flexible electronics, miniaturized soft sensors, and a powerful new understanding of tactile information processing in humans - intrinsically shaped through the interaction with the environment, and aimed to advance robotics and assistive technology. The technological novelties of this project include touch sensor using materials such as graphene and new functionalities such as memory device in skin for deeper understanding of skin biomechanics through artificial means. Neuroscience investigations and computational modelling using predictive coding will explain how variable modes of interactions still lead to a stable representation of the objects we interact with, and how robots could use these principles to acquire knowledge of their haptic environment. This will also help developing intuitive and efficient haptic displays as an aid for the blind and prosthetics. Through participation in this ITN and targeted courses, the ESR will acquire complementary expertise of neuroscience, haptics, flexible electronics, microsensors, robotics and rehabilitation technology. This programme, proposed by 13 key academic, research institutes and industry, will deliver 540 person-months of unparalleled multidisciplinary research training to 15 ESRs. The ESR will be mentored by INTUITIVE PIs, who are pioneers in the neuroscience or/and technology of haptics and its applications. They will have access to state-of-the-art equipment including unique devices designed by the PIs. Hands-on project training will be supplemented with formal training courses in relevant fields and a variety of courses such as IPR, grant writing and exploiting the scientific results. Mobility within the network targeted to each ESR will ensure exposure to both academic and industrial environments.

MERGING will deliver a turnkey robotic solution to automate handling of flexible and fragile objects. Our ambition is to provide manufacturers with an end-to-end solution to automate the handling of soft objects. The solution will consist of a fingered gripper equipped with an electro-adhesive skin that conforms to the objects to handle, even delicate fabrics or components, without any damage. Electro-adhesion increases the direct gripping forces and thus allows greatly reduced clamping forces. Our solution includes perception and supervision functions to adapt the system's behaviour in real time to the execution conditions and for robot system programming accessible to non-specialists. Our main motivations are to build a versatile, easy-to-use and low-cost system. To demonstrate this and the possibilities of scaling up, we will design our system using proven laboratory technologies (TRL 4), then carry out proof of concept in realistic environments (TRL 6) in three different applications and sectors: fabric handling for lingerie manufacturing, technical fiber handling for composite bus panel manufacturing, plastic bag handling for the food industry. MERGING is a four-year project involving the entire value chain of soft object gripping automation. The CEA leads the project and provides the robotic technologies in collaboration with EPFL (electrical adhesion), AIMEN (perception), LMS (supervision), and SHADOW then OMNIGRASP (capture) and IPC (materials). CEA, EPFL, AIMEN and LMS will respectively use AI technologies for robotic demonstration programming, electro-adhesive skin control, perception and control of the complete system. SELMARK, VDL and THIMONNIER introduce cases of use of fabric, composite and polymer handling respectively. CASP and OPTEAMUM are respectively responsible for the software and hardware integration and the exploitation of the results. OMNIGRASP will release the pliers with electro-adhesive skin after the end of the project.