Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MASTER (Mixed reality ecosystem for teaching robotics in manufacturing)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2024-07-01 do 2025-06-30
Mixed reAlity ecoSystem for Teaching Robotics in Manufacturing (MASTER) aims to develop innovative solutions using Extended Reality (XR) technologies to enhance education/training approaches and resources for teaching and learning robotics in manufacturing. As manufacturing advances with Industry 4.0 and 5.0 there is a growing focus on human-centric approaches, sustainability, and technologies like robotics and XR. One challenge is addressing the skills gap, especially in reskilling low- and mid-level workers. MASTER addresses this by developing an Open XR platform for immersive, interactive robotics training. The platform empowers non-XR experts, such as trainers and educators, to create and manage XR-based content for workforce upskilling in robotics and automation.
Project's key components have been split in 5 pillars and those include:
- Pillar 1: The Open XR Platform, enabling XR-based content creation and management.
- Pillars 2-4: Technological functions targeting robot interaction, user-friendly programming, and gaze-based interactions.
- Pillar 5: XR-based robotics training materials.
MASTER will also launch two Open Calls (OC1, OC2) to expand and validate XR technologies and training content. Short-term outcomes include innovative XR applications for education, while long-term impacts focus on inclusivity, sustainable jobs, and addressing robotics skills gaps. Success will be measured by KPIs such as time reduction in XR content creation, improved user safety and confidence, and increased exposure to hands-on training with XR.
Project's key components have been split in 5 pillars and those include:
- Pillar 1: The Open XR Platform, enabling XR-based content creation and management.
- Pillars 2-4: Technological functions targeting robot interaction, user-friendly programming, and gaze-based interactions.
- Pillar 5: XR-based robotics training materials.
MASTER will also launch two Open Calls (OC1, OC2) to expand and validate XR technologies and training content. Short-term outcomes include innovative XR applications for education, while long-term impacts focus on inclusivity, sustainable jobs, and addressing robotics skills gaps. Success will be measured by KPIs such as time reduction in XR content creation, improved user safety and confidence, and increased exposure to hands-on training with XR.
The MASTER project has made significant progress in technical and scientific activities across its work packages (WPs):
1. WP1: XR Platform for Robotics in Manufacturing Training
- T1.1 (Educational Use Cases): Identified educational use cases targeting low to intermediate skill levels in robotics, focusing on students and the workforce. Defined scenarios for the XR platform based on user feedback (D1.1 M6).
- T1.2 (Platform Components): Defined functional areas (CREATE, LEARN, SERVICES, EXECUTE) for developing robotics content and managing XR-based training (D1.2 M9).
- T1.3 (Platform Development): Developed the XR platform iteratively with feedback from education and training experts (D1.2 M9; D1.3 M18; D1.4 M32).
- T1.4 (Health & Safety in Manufacturing): Created XR components for health and safety training in robotics (D1.5 M9; D1.6 M18; D1.7 M32).
- T1.5 (Robotic Application Programming): Developed intuitive programming methods for robots using PbD and visual support (D1.8 M9; D1.9 M18; D1.10 M32).
- T1.6 (Multimodal Interfaces): Developed human-hologram interaction mechanisms using eye-gazing methods (D1.11 M9; D1.12 M18; D1.13 M32).
2. WP2: Didactic Material Preparation
- ALE collaborated with partners to design educational XR scenarios and created multimedia robotics training materials. A library of reusable didactic functions was developed for educational XR scenes (D2.1 M21).
3. WP3: Open Calls Management
- Launched the 1st Open Call (OC1), receiving 64 applications, with 42 evaluated by 15 external reviewers. 17 applications were successfully selected for funding (D3.1 M17; D3.2 M21).
- Launched the 2nd Open Call (OC2), receiving 78 applications, with 47 evaluated by 16 external reviewers. 24 applications were successfully selected for funding (D3.3 M28; D3.4 M32).
4. WP4: Experiments Execution, Monitoring, and Validation
- Designed experiments to validate technologies in health and safety, robot programming, and gaze-based interaction. Initial experiments involved 10 participants, providing valuable feedback for further refinement.
1. WP1: XR Platform for Robotics in Manufacturing Training
- T1.1 (Educational Use Cases): Identified educational use cases targeting low to intermediate skill levels in robotics, focusing on students and the workforce. Defined scenarios for the XR platform based on user feedback (D1.1 M6).
- T1.2 (Platform Components): Defined functional areas (CREATE, LEARN, SERVICES, EXECUTE) for developing robotics content and managing XR-based training (D1.2 M9).
- T1.3 (Platform Development): Developed the XR platform iteratively with feedback from education and training experts (D1.2 M9; D1.3 M18; D1.4 M32).
- T1.4 (Health & Safety in Manufacturing): Created XR components for health and safety training in robotics (D1.5 M9; D1.6 M18; D1.7 M32).
- T1.5 (Robotic Application Programming): Developed intuitive programming methods for robots using PbD and visual support (D1.8 M9; D1.9 M18; D1.10 M32).
- T1.6 (Multimodal Interfaces): Developed human-hologram interaction mechanisms using eye-gazing methods (D1.11 M9; D1.12 M18; D1.13 M32).
2. WP2: Didactic Material Preparation
- ALE collaborated with partners to design educational XR scenarios and created multimedia robotics training materials. A library of reusable didactic functions was developed for educational XR scenes (D2.1 M21).
3. WP3: Open Calls Management
- Launched the 1st Open Call (OC1), receiving 64 applications, with 42 evaluated by 15 external reviewers. 17 applications were successfully selected for funding (D3.1 M17; D3.2 M21).
- Launched the 2nd Open Call (OC2), receiving 78 applications, with 47 evaluated by 16 external reviewers. 24 applications were successfully selected for funding (D3.3 M28; D3.4 M32).
4. WP4: Experiments Execution, Monitoring, and Validation
- Designed experiments to validate technologies in health and safety, robot programming, and gaze-based interaction. Initial experiments involved 10 participants, providing valuable feedback for further refinement.
MASTER’s strategy for achieving research, economic, and societal impacts is driven by coordinated dissemination, exploitation, and communication (D-E-C) activities under WP5.
Key progress during this period includes:
• Continuous communication (T5.2) and dissemination (T5.3) through the project website, social media, press releases, and participation in scientific and industrial events.
• Exploitation activities (T5.4) led by ALE since M7, advancing commercialization planning for the XR Platform and XR Training Content.
• The D-E-C strategy defined in D5.1 (M6) was further refined in D5.4 (M32), guiding all outreach and impact actions.
• MASTER’s visual identity, website, and social media channels were consolidated to support awareness and Open Call communication.
• Dissemination included scientific publications, webinars, and major fairs (e.g. VRST, ERF, XR EXPO), reaching thousands of stakeholders.
• Exploitation planning advanced through Horizon Results Booster services, validating exploitable results and refining business models for KER1 (XR Platform) and KER2 (XR Training Content).
• Collaboration and clustering expanded via the BeyondXR initiative, fostering synergies with over 10 Horizon Europe projects.
The D-E-C strategy is applied to each Key Exploitable Result (KER) and continuously updated. Core KERs include the XR Platform, didactic XR content, safety modules, PbD programming tools, and gaze-based interaction technologies.
To maximize impact, MASTER applies both internal and external measures:
• Internal: continued R&D investment, pilot demonstrations, IP protection, and targeted commercialization strategy.
• External: partnerships, venture funding, internationalization, standardization, and showcasing at global events.
The expected impacts include:
• Economic: job creation, upskilling, and growth in the XR training market.
• Societal: improved accessibility, inclusivity, and workforce readiness.
• Scientific: advancement of XR research and educational innovation.
Key progress during this period includes:
• Continuous communication (T5.2) and dissemination (T5.3) through the project website, social media, press releases, and participation in scientific and industrial events.
• Exploitation activities (T5.4) led by ALE since M7, advancing commercialization planning for the XR Platform and XR Training Content.
• The D-E-C strategy defined in D5.1 (M6) was further refined in D5.4 (M32), guiding all outreach and impact actions.
• MASTER’s visual identity, website, and social media channels were consolidated to support awareness and Open Call communication.
• Dissemination included scientific publications, webinars, and major fairs (e.g. VRST, ERF, XR EXPO), reaching thousands of stakeholders.
• Exploitation planning advanced through Horizon Results Booster services, validating exploitable results and refining business models for KER1 (XR Platform) and KER2 (XR Training Content).
• Collaboration and clustering expanded via the BeyondXR initiative, fostering synergies with over 10 Horizon Europe projects.
The D-E-C strategy is applied to each Key Exploitable Result (KER) and continuously updated. Core KERs include the XR Platform, didactic XR content, safety modules, PbD programming tools, and gaze-based interaction technologies.
To maximize impact, MASTER applies both internal and external measures:
• Internal: continued R&D investment, pilot demonstrations, IP protection, and targeted commercialization strategy.
• External: partnerships, venture funding, internationalization, standardization, and showcasing at global events.
The expected impacts include:
• Economic: job creation, upskilling, and growth in the XR training market.
• Societal: improved accessibility, inclusivity, and workforce readiness.
• Scientific: advancement of XR research and educational innovation.