Three different robotic devices will be presented by the Brno University of Technology (BUT) at this year's International Engineering Fair. The robot as a key element of Industry 4.0 will be presented to visitors in the role of a laboratory technician, within a robotized production cell or in 3D printing of products. The fair takes place from 4 to 7 October at the Brno Exhibition Centre. Visitors will find the BUT stand in Hall A1, Stand No. 26.

Traditionally, researchers from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering occupy the largest part of the stand of the Brno University of Technology. At the fair, they are to present three very diverse robotic exhibits. The first is an automated solution for handling laboratory samples. The system, called openTube2, was tested in the live operation of the laboratory of the University Hospital Brno from June to September. In the lab, the robot handled real, potentially infectious samples tested for Covid-19. "It takes the robot less than a minute to process one sample. The laboratory technician works similarly quickly, but the system does not get tired and so it frees up the hands of the professional staff who can attend to other work," says Radomil Matoušek, head of the research team at the FME.

Visitors will also see a robotic workplace with smart maintenance elements that use mixed reality technology. The exhibit consists of a robotized production cell and its digital twin that processes and evaluates the current state of the production cell in real time, including the robot and safety features. In the event of issues that require operator intervention, the system automatically compiles a list of remedial steps and guides the user through the process using precisely placed holograms and instructions. Visitors may choose to see this exhibit not only live but also in virtual reality.

Visitors can look forward to RoboTyping, a robotic cell designed for 3D printing. It is exhibited at the fair by the BUT’s spin-off company 3Deposition. "The advantage of robotic 3D printing is that it increases production efficiency and flexibility. Thanks to this method, we can print previously unthinkable shapes, it also helps to improve the connection between the individual layers and is compatible with other industrial technologies, for example the automated production lines," explains David Škaroupka, CEO of the company and a researcher at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.

The stand of the Brno University of Technology will host also its other centers – the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication (FEEC), the Institute of Forensic Engineering and CEITEC. While the visitors will learn on video how the FEEC system for testing high-strength steel welds can detect cracks during welding using the acoustic emission method, researchers from the Institute of Forensic Engineering have prepared a presentation of crash tests and an analysis of maintenance of attention span, for example, in drivers, using the eyetracking method. CEITEC’s Laboratory of X-ray computed tomography is ready to provide expert opinions to manufacturing companies.

BUT students will demonstrate their latest electric racing formula Dragon e2. Visitors will have a chance to try how it feels like to be a racing pilot thanks to a professional driving simulator with the performance and response comparable to simulators of the professional Formula 1.