Robboni

Robboni is a modular robotic platform developed by the Swiss engineering firm RoboNova Technologies. It was first unveiled at the International Robotics Expo in 2019 and has since been adopted in a variety of industrial and research contexts.

The core Robboni architecture centers on a lightweight carbon‑fiber chassis and an open‑source control framework that supports ROS (Robot Operating System) integration. Each unit is equipped with an array of sensors, including LiDAR, stereo cameras, and force–torque sensors, allowing for sophisticated perception and manipulation tasks. A six‑degree‑of‑freedom articulated arm provides high dexterity, while wheels with adaptive suspension give the robot the ability to navigate uneven terrain.

Robboni was conceived to address the need for highly adaptable robotic solutions that can be rapidly reconfigured for different tasks. In its base configuration, the platform can perform automated material handling, inventory management, and simple assembly operations in warehouses. A specialized “Service” variant incorporates a humanoid interface module, enabling basic human–robot interaction for customer service and education purposes.

Academic collaborations have used Robboni as a testbed for developing advanced machine‑learning algorithms for path planning, manipulation, and ethical decision‑making. In 2022, the platform was selected by a European aerospace consortium for a series of autonomous inspection missions on solar‑panel arrays, demonstrating its robustness in harsh environments.

While the platform has been praised for its versatility and open‑source pedigree, critiques have highlighted concerns about the cost of high‑precision sensors and the limited battery life for mobile applications. Ongoing research focuses on integrating newer power‑management solutions and expanding the software ecosystem to support multi‑robot coordination.