Our mission at RoboTUM, Germany's largest student robotics initiative, is to develop Munich into a global center for robotics.
The robotics race has long since begun, and we want to position Europe as a leading player in the global innovation race. We see enormous potential in three rapidly growing markets for autonomous walking platforms:
– Autonomous leg robots: USD 1.5 billion (2023) → USD 7.3 billion by 2031
– Humanoid robotics: estimated at USD 32 billion by 2030, with 49% annual growth
– Leg-based vehicles: a new mobility field with a potential of USD 7 billion by 2030
Leg-powered systems are changing how machines move through unstructured and uneven terrain, with an adaptability that wheels and tracks cannot provide.
The RoboTUM approach is clear: Superior mechanics. We are bridging the gap between research and industry by implementing bio-inspired underactuation and energy-efficient locomotion in bipedal robots. In doing so, we aim to take a pioneering role in Europe.
Our robots offer decisive advantages:
– High adaptability: You navigate quickly through complex environments
– Cost efficiency: Fewer engines than in four-legged animals – engines are the most expensive components
– Energy savings: Through a novel walking physiology, inspired by the BirdBot research of the Max Planck Institute, we significantly extend the battery life – batteries are the second most expensive component
This results in estimated cost savings of over 40 % and makes our robots significantly more affordable and sustainable.
The founders of RoboTUM, Andres Gonzalez Eelman, Deniz Can Ozer, Florian Schroeders, and Pasha Rizali, form a strong team with a shared vision. Their goal is to actively shape the future of humanoid robotics.
