The European Coordination Hub for Open Robotics Development++: An Overview

Abstract

ECHORD++ is an FP7 project in robotics innovation, and a direct follow-up to the original ECHORD project. In this Chapter, we provide a rapid overview of the aims of the project and of the general context within which it is framed, in particular the manner in which it builds upon achievements of the original project, as well as the place it occupies in the current European research landscape in robotics. Further, we outline the structure of the project, which is organized around a number of distinct Instruments. The goal of the work performed is two-fold, as it is concerned with both achieving concrete, substantial impact in robotic innovation, but also with exploring different processes and support mechanisms to pursue and achieve said innovation. Hereafter, we provide a short overview of the format of the three technical Instruments implemented within the project: Experiments, Robotics Innovation Facilities, and Public end-user Driven Technological Innovation. We discuss the efficacy and relative merits of these different Instruments, and their impact on the European research community in robotics.