Women in Tech: Insights into the latest research topics
On November 22, the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics organized a networking event together with the Women in Tech association at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen for the first time. “The promotion of women in scientific and technical professions is very important to us at the DLR,” Professor Alin Albu-Schäffer, director of the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, pointed out. With around 100 participants, this was the largest event ever held by Women in Tech D/A/CH.
Particularly interested participants could visit the Institute for Communications and Navigation before the start of the event. Through demonstrations on current research topics, such as optical communication links, swarming and indoor navigation, the participants were given insights into the scientific focal points of this DLR institute.
The extensive program of the Women in Tech event at the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics started with live demonstrations of robotic technologies and brief
lectures on robotics and artificial intelligence. For example, the approximately 100 visitors were introduced to the possible uses of robotics in nursing and medicine. Walking and aerospace assistance robotics were also on the program as presentation topics and delighted the attendees.
The following lectures were held:
- Lioba Suchenwirth: "Focus on the human being" - Ethical questions concerning the technological development of robotic care assistance systems
- Annette Hagengruber: EDAN – An assistance robot in the SMiLE project
- Annika Schmidt: From the machine to the colleague - How robots help to access the universe
- Anna Sesselmann: Robots modelled on nature - Elastic walking with Bert
- Keynote lecture: Prof. Alin Albu-Schäffer
During the event, the participants also had the opportunity to exchange ideas and expand their own professional networks. The discussions about technological topics with like-minded women in particular provided new ideas and inspiration. In the marketplace for women, the Institute for Communications and Navigation, Human Resource Marketing, Personnel Development, as well as the DLR FIF (Women in Management Positions) and Diversity Management presented exciting training opportunities and jobs at DLR. Finally, Professor Alin Albu-Schäffer spoke about space exploration and once again emphasized DLR’s great interest in promoting women in research and science.
The institute develops robots that enable people to interact more effectively, efficiently and safely with the environment. The robots are intended to work in environments that are inaccessible or dangerous to humans, but also support and relieve people during work and in everyday life.
On a functional level, the RMC robots reproduce and expand human movement and locomotion abilities. Thus, the robots carry out any tasks of locomotion and interaction with the environment as autonomously as possible. Human-robot interaction, which takes place both on the physical and on the cognitive level, is central to this. The SMiLE project is developing concepts and assistance applications to provide effective support in everyday life for people with disabilities as well as those in need of care. The necessary technologies are researched and brought to an advanced level that will allow testing in realistic environments (for example, in hospitals and homes for the elderly or disabled).
The walking robot Bert, on the other hand, serves as a platform for researching highly dynamic and efficient walking. Bert’s mechanics are designed so that his natural movements already correspond to those of walking. All components are coordinated so that high performance can be achieved with the lowest possible energy, calculation and cost outlay.