Prototype Robotic Laundry Systems : electrolux laundry robot



A team of researchers from the University of Bologna (Unibo) has collaborated with Electrolux to develop an innovative automated laundry robot system. This system is designed to handle the entire laundry process, from loading and unloading the washing machine to identifying wrinkles and bunching in textiles. The researchers have implemented a “point cloud-based perception algorithm” that allows the robot to detect and grasp clothing and sheets accurately, addressing the historic challenge of handling flexible materials. The system was tested on robotic platforms Tiago and Baxter, as well as an AEG washing machine, and the results were published in SpringerLink’s “Human-Friendly Robotics”.

The automated laundry robot system aims to replace human operators in laundry cleaning stores with autonomous mobile robotic arms. The researchers are continuing to refine the system’s ability to handle textiles and plan to implement it in real-world industrial settings. This collaboration highlights the potential of robotics to streamline household chores and improve efficiency in industrial applications. The project is part of the Laboratory of Automation and Robotics at Unibo, which focuses on developing robotic manipulations for practical use.

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