HARMONY – Human‑Assisted Robotic Manufacturing for Optimised New Yield
The manufacturing industry is one of the pillars of the Lombard and European economy, but it is facing growing challenges: an aging workforce, a shortage of skilled labor, difficulties in attracting young talent, and increasing global competition.
HARMONY was created to address these challenges by developing a “Factory of the Future” model that is flexible, reconfigurable, and digital, where advanced automation, autonomous robotics, and immersive technologies work in harmony with humans.
The project integrates the concept of the Industrial Metaverse, a complete and dynamic digital replica of production and logistics processes, enabling the design, simulation, and optimization of products and production lines before their physical implementation, thus reducing errors, development time, and environmental impact.
Starting from a concrete industrial case—BREMBO’s electric brake calipers—HARMONY will develop both a virtual and physical demonstrator of a production line based on advanced robotics, flexible automation, predictive diagnostics, and reconfigurable robotic agents for intralogistics, quality control, inspection, and maintenance.
A key aspect of the project is its human-centric approach: immersive interfaces based on augmented and virtual reality, tools to assess physical and cognitive ergonomics, and solutions for human-robot collaboration and teleoperation are reshaping the role of operators. This shifts them from repetitive and physically demanding tasks to high value-added supervision and control activities, in line with Industry 5.0 and inclusivity principles.
HARMONY is carried out by a partnership bringing together large companies, SMEs, and leading research organizations: the Intellimech Consortium, BREMBO, COSBERG, ELETTROCABLAGGI, FASSI, SIAD Macchine Impianti, the Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), and the University of Bergamo.
The project contributes to the objectives of the Lombardy ERDF Regional Programme 2021–2027 – Axis 1 “A more competitive and smarter Europe”, Specific Objective 1.1 – by promoting the strengthening of research and innovation capabilities, the adoption of advanced technologies, and the growth of a regional ecosystem for sustainable advanced manufacturing.
Programme: PR Lombardia FESR 2021‑2027 – Asse 1, OS 1.1, Azione 1.1.3 “Sostegno all’attuazione di progetti complessi di ricerca, sviluppo e innovazione”.
Programme: PR Lombardia FESR 2021‑2027 – Asse 1, OS 1.1, Azione 1.1.3 “Sostegno all’attuazione di progetti complessi di ricerca, sviluppo e innovazione”.
Call: “Collabora & Innova”.
Project ID: 6161043.
Duration: 03/02/2025 – 03/08/2027 (30 mesi).
Total Cost: 9.385.177,70 €.
The Consortium: Intellimech, BREMBO, COSBERG, ELETTROCABLAGGI, FASSI, SIAD Macchine Impianti, IIT, Università di Bergamo.