AI-driven Robotic Assistant for Logisticsbroad
ARAL · Horizon Europe grant · 2026-09-01–2027-05-31
EC contribution
Total cost
Beneficiaries
About the data
Source: CORDIS (official EU open data), Horizon Europe. Framework HORIZON · call HORIZON-EIC-2026-AIC · scheme HORIZON-EIC · topic HORIZON-EIC-2026-AIC-01. CORDIS record →
Objective
ARAL (AI-driven Robotic Assistant for Logistics) aims to develop a bipedal, AI-driven humanoid platform capable of executing a broad range of warehouse operations in human-centric, high-throughput logistics centres. The goal is a single embodied system that can safely navigate dense layouts, interact with existing industrial equipment and shelving, and manipulate a wide variety of objects and payloads (from deformable textiles and hanging garments to cartons, containers and heterogeneous goods) without major infrastructure changes. This directly addresses a key limitation of current warehouse automation, which is largely optimised for rigid, standardised flows and struggles with high variability, frequent task switching and safe operation close to people.Starting from a TRL 4 humanoid platform (Kangaroo), ARAL advances disruptive Physical AI capabilities aligned with the Challenge requirements, combining intelligent perception and cognition, adaptive learning and optimisation, and novel physical integration to enable robust, low-latency decision-making and compliant manipulation in real operational conditions. The project is driven by clear end-user needs: stabilising throughput under peak demand, reducing error-prone manual handling and rework, improving operator ergonomics and safety, and enabling fast deployment in legacy facilities through standard interfaces and straightforward on-site operation.Market pull is substantiated through Letters of Interest from Inditex and Decathlon, and additional end-user workshops will refine requirements and extend adoption opportunities across the wider retail logistics ecosystem. By enabling deployable embodied AI in existing logistics centres, ARAL opens a structurally underserved automation segment, creating a blue-ocean opportunity and strengthening European competitiveness through standardisable, export-ready Physical AI solutions with cross-sector scalability.
Beneficiaries (1)
| Organisation | Country | Role | EC contribution | SME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAL ROBOTICS SLU | ES | coordinator | €300,000 | Yes |
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