An information model for modular robots: the Hardware Robot Information Model (HRIM)

Understand

Today's landscape of robotics is dominated by vertical integration where single vendors develop the final product leading to slow progress, expensive products and customer lock-in.

• Opposite to this, an horizontal integration would result in a rapid development of cost-effective mass-market products with an additional consumer empowerment.
• The transition of an industry from vertical integration to horizontal integration is typically catalysed by de facto industry standards that enable a simplified and seamless integration of products.
• However, in robotics there is currently no leading candidate for a global plug-and-play standard.