Funded by the European Union, MOZART is developing a new type of robotic system designed to handle soft and fragile objects with greater care. At the centre of this innovation is the AUTOMAT (Autonomous Manipulation using Morphing Modular Mats): a reconfigurable, sensorised surface that can change its shape and behaviour through AI-based control.

Unlike conventional robotic arms that rely on rigid pick-and-place mechanisms, AUTOMAT adapts to the object it interacts with, enabling more delicate and responsive manipulation.

To explain how the system works, project partner ICONS has produced three complementary infopacks in collaboration with technical partners, including IIT, EPFL and IT-Universitetet i København. Each focuses on one of the three tightly connected layers that together form the AUTOMAT:

• The Compliant Poro-Elastic Smart Surface (COPESS) is the top layer that acts as a sensing skin, capturing detailed tactile information.
• The Origami Robotics Actuator (ORA) middle layer generates motion through origami-inspired actuation modules that reshape the surface.
• The electronics layer underpins control, ensuring power management and coordination.

“The three infopacks allow us to clearly visualise how perception, motion and control are distributed across the layers”, says Kasper Støy, professor at IT-Universitetet i København and project coordinator. “Rather than grasping with rigid grippers, this manipulation surface adapts to the object it handles, making it possible to handle large, fragile objects without risk of damage”.

Together, the three infopacks present both the technical composition of the system and the design logic behind its modular and adaptive structure.

Photo Credit by Steve Johnson, Unsplash