CogniDrive was founded at the end of 2024 by Dr. Matthias Rottenkolber, an experienced entrepreneur in the field of 3D sensor technology and automation. He has already set new standards in industrial image processing with his previous company ShapeDrive. With CogniDrive, he is now pursuing a long-term vision together with an interdisciplinary team: to make the next level of autonomous robotics a reality:
Collaborative robots - known as cobots - have already changed industrial production: They can be used flexibly, work safely with humans and are easier to program than traditional industrial robots.
The next big leap in innovation is to give them a spatial understanding:
We are developing systems that equip cobots with spatial intelligence - in other words, the ability to perceive and analyze three-dimensional environments in real time and to act independently on the basis of this perception. This enables them to understand their environment and actively adapt to complex situations - just like a human.
Our experience shows: Conventional control solutions reach their limits when processes are complex, unstructured or rich in variants. With our technology, we create the basis for a new type of automation: adaptable, adaptive and robust in a real environment.
Collaborative robots have already changed industrial production. They are flexible to use, safe to work with humans and easier to program than traditional industrial robots. But the next big leap in innovation is just around the corner: the combination of cobots with spatial intelligence. Spatial intelligence means that a robot can detect, analyze and understand its environment in three dimensions in real time. This means that cobots would not only react, but also actively think - particularly interesting for complex manufacturing processes.
Today, cobots usually have to be programmed precisely for each new work step. With spatial intelligence, they could react spontaneously to new workpieces, tools or component positions. For example, a cobot would recognize whether a part is at a slight angle - and still grip and assemble it correctly.
In mass production with many product variants, automation has been difficult up to now. An intelligent cobot could independently decide which work steps are necessary by recognizing component geometries - without retooling or reprogramming.
With the help of 3D sensors and spatial understanding, cobots could automatically check during assembly whether components are correctly seated, screws are properly tightened or whether there are tolerance deviations - and readjust if necessary.
In workshops or flexible production lines where people, vehicles and materials are in motion, spatially intelligent cobots could operate safely and efficiently - without having to rely on clearly demarcated work areas.
Conclusion
Cobots with spatial intelligence would significantly advance automation in production - especially where a lot of manual work is still required today. They could adapt to changing products, environments and situations, make decisions on the spot and work directly with people. This brings the vision of a truly flexible, intelligent factory a great deal closer.
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