The GRVC Robotics Lab, a research group from the ETSi at the University of Seville, has showcased its developments in aerial robotics and autonomous manipulation at the European Parliament. Professors and researchers Alejandro Suárez and Aníbal Ollero presented several of these technologies in Brussels on September 2nd, as part of euROBIN, the European Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Network.
Among the innovations displayed are drones equipped with robotic arms for logistics operations, package delivery, infrastructure inspection, and maintenance. During the demonstration, Alejandro Suárez showcased ADROP, an aerial robot designed for lightweight package delivery, with particularly relevant applications in the healthcare and assistance sectors, such as direct medication delivery.
The event, coordinated by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), brought together around 170 representatives from European politics, industry, and research. A total of 15 robots developed by leading European research centers were exhibited, categorized into three application areas: industrial robotics, domestic service robotics, and robotics for package delivery.
The day concluded with a roundtable discussion addressing the necessary measures to boost the development of artificial intelligence-based robotics in Europe over the next 10-15 years and to enhance its position in the international market.
The Sevillian delegation also presented an autonomous aerial manipulator with anthropomorphic robotic arms, capable of operating fully autonomously. Potential applications include intralogistics operations and inspection and maintenance tasks at heights. Additionally, a 3D mapping system for urban and indoor environments was demonstrated, enabling robots to navigate autonomously and utilize generated maps to improve operational efficiency.
These developments are part of the research activity of the GRVC Robotics Lab, a leading robotics group at the University of Seville, which operates within Sevilla TechPark, an ecosystem fostering innovation and knowledge transfer through the convergence of research, technology, and business.
Furthermore, researchers Alejandro Suárez and Aníbal Ollero received the Mechatronics Paper Prize in August for their research paper "Ultra-lightweight anthropomorphic dual-arm rolling robot for dexterous manipulation tasks on linear infrastructures: A self-stabilizing system", published in the journal Mechatronics in 2023.
This work, selected from 121 scientific publications from that year at the international congress IFAC 2026, presents an aerial robotic system for power line maintenance based on LiCAS A1, a lightweight, anthropomorphic dual-arm system with accommodation capabilities, designed and developed by Alejandro Suárez.
This research is also integrated into the European project AERIAL-CORE, coordinated by Aníbal Ollero from the University of Seville, and represents further recognition of the capacity of research originating from Seville to generate advanced solutions in robotics and artificial intelligence with applications in strategic sectors.
