Research & innovation
Research at IRIS Robotics
IRIS Robotics is a partner in European research projects on social robots and Embodied AI. In the AAL engAGE project we contributed the integration of the Pepper social robot for cognitive stimulation of older adults with mild cognitive impairment — research with results published in the peer-reviewed literature (PubMed Central).
The European engAGE project (AAL)
engAGE — "Managing cognitivE decliNe throuGh Theatre Therapy, Artificial Intelligence and Social Robots drivEn Interventions" — is a European project under the Active and Assisted Living (AAL) programme, with a total budget of around 2 million euros, coordinated by the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. Its goal: to counteract and slow cognitive decline in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, through an ecosystem that combines IoT monitoring of daily activities, machine learning for cognitive-decline detection, and social-robot-driven interventions (coaching and cognitive stimulation through theatre and storytelling). The platform was built around the Pepper social robot.
IRIS Robotics' role
Within the engAGE consortium, IRIS Robotics (Iași, Romania) is the robotics partner: we integrated the Pepper social robot into the intervention platform — for dialogue, cognitive games and stimulation sessions — together with the clinical and technical partners. This is exactly our model: we don't just supply the robot, we build and integrate the application into the real usage flow.
The consortium
6 partners from 4 countries:
- •Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania (coordinator)
- •IRIS Robotics, Romania
- •Tellu AS, Norway
- •Karde AS, Norway
- •Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland
- •IRCCS INRCA, Italy
Publications and sources
The study protocol (proof-of-concept + randomized controlled trial) is published and indexed on PubMed Central:
- engAGE protocol — PubMed Central (PMC12441641), DOI 10.2196/67601
- engAGE — AAL Programme
- engAGE — ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06302686)
- engAGE official project site
Research & Embodied AI, beyond engAGE
We support universities and research labs with humanoid and Embodied AI platforms (Unitree, AgiBot, PNDbotics), SDK/ROS2, reinforcement learning and AI software integration, including procurement through EU funds and public tenders.
Frequently asked questions
Does IRIS Robotics do research?
Yes. IRIS Robotics is a partner in European research projects on social robots and Embodied AI. One example is the AAL engAGE project, where we integrated the Pepper social robot for cognitive stimulation of older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
What is the engAGE project?
engAGE is a European project (Active and Assisted Living, AAL programme), coordinated by the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, that counteracts cognitive decline in older adults through a platform combining IoT monitoring, machine learning and social-robot (Pepper) interventions, via theatre and storytelling.
What is IRIS Robotics' role in engAGE?
IRIS Robotics is the robotics partner in the consortium: it integrated the Pepper social robot into the intervention platform (dialogue, cognitive games, stimulation sessions), alongside the clinical and technical partners from 4 countries.
Where is the engAGE study published?
The study protocol (proof-of-concept and randomized controlled trial) is published and indexed on PubMed Central (PMC12441641, DOI 10.2196/67601) and registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06302686).
Do you collaborate with universities on research?
Yes. We work with universities and labs on humanoid robots and Embodied AI (SDK, ROS2, reinforcement learning) and support procurement through EU funds and public tenders.
Have a robotics research project?
Tell us your goal (social robots, Embodied AI, humanoid platforms) and we'll propose the right platform and integration, including for funded projects.
Contact the team