The Somorrostro Training Center will lead a new European Erasmus+ project focused on the application of two key technologies for the future of industrial robotics: ROS2 and computer vision. Titled “Advanced Picking 4.0: ROS2 and Computer Vision for Next-Generation Industrial Robotics,” the initiative will enable the development of new resources and methodologies to integrate these tools into vocational training.
The proposal originated in our center’s Artificial Intelligence and Robotics department, spearheaded by our colleague Jon Ander Maiz, and will involve five European educational institutions. Alongside Somorrostro, which will serve as the project leader and coordinator, the participating organizations are ENSINUS – Estudos Técnicos e Profissionais SA, from Portugal; Fondazione Enaip Don Eleuterio Agostini and Fondazione REI, both from Italy; and the Ylä-Savo Municipal Federation of Education, from Finland.
The project will focus on the development of industrial applications for picking and handling parts using collaborative robots. To this end, practical training modules will be designed centered on ROS2—an open-source system widely used in robotics—and on machine vision technologies that enable systems to identify, locate, and select objects.
One of the main outcomes will be the creation of an open educational platform featuring real-world case studies that demonstrate the integration of ROS2 with computer vision systems. Modular content on ROS2 nodes, computer vision algorithms, and robot integration will also be developed, along with challenges, instructional materials, and assessment tools hosted on a Moodle platform.
The project also includes the installation and configuration of robotic workstations equipped with industrial-grade cameras and the creation of a simulation environment that will facilitate distance learning and skills development without the need to physically have all the equipment on hand.
Teacher training will be another key component. Vocational education teachers will receive training alongside industry specialists so they can later pass this knowledge on to their students. Additionally, collaboration with local companies will be encouraged, where pilot projects will be launched to validate the materials created and test their usefulness in real industrial settings.
Finally, guidelines and replicable resources will be developed that can be adopted by other European vocational training centers. With this new Erasmus+ program, Somorrostro is reinforcing its commitment to internationalization, educational innovation, and vocational training that is aligned with the technological challenges of Industry 4.0.
