Partnerships and quality assurance
We conduct applied research projects at TRL-4 to TRL-7 (Technology Readiness Level). Our researchers and engineers work with partners to reach project goals and answer research questions. The results are knowledge products that we demonstrate through Proofs of Concept in real-world environments. As a non-profit knowledge institute, project funds go toward investigating research questions and developing the Demonstrator or Proof of Concept. The projects may be partially or fully funded by public and private partners. We always aim to deliver high-quality, impactful results.
All types of collaboration are possible
We are open to all forms of collaboration based on shared values and roadmaps.
We conduct collaborative projects to facilitate the development of innovative solutions to urgent societal challenges by providing our partners with the knowledge, expertise and skills in Robotics, Mechatronics and AI.
We provide support to our partners during their innovation journey by providing specialized knowledge and skills.
Do you have questions about opportunities to collaborate?
Feel free to contact us!
Using our facilities
We share our state-of-the-art facilities to boost innovation capacities of our industrial partners and training of talents.
This is an outdoor test location for ground and air robots. This space is equipped with nets so that you can fly and test safely with drones with all outdoor conditions. The location can be equipped with a Truss system of 9x9 meters and 6 meters high for placing objects near the ground or in the air. In addition, the research group has a Mavermind localization set. This system is able to track objects +/- 2cm accurately.
This is an indoor test location of approximately 6x6 meters equipped with the Optitrack prime 13 motion caption system. This test location is used for testing and tracking drones and ground robots. In addition, the room is equipped with a safety harness for drones so that it can be tested with different controllers for drones without crashing to the ground.
There is plenty to learn in the field of industrial automation and robotization. Especially, when industrial (collaborative) robots and autonomous guided vehicles (AGV’s) come in different shapes and sizes and with the most diverse specifications. Whatever type of system or platform you use, it ultimately revolves around the application within the automation process.
In our Smart Industrial Systems lab we can facilitate applied research to find innovative solutions for your automation challenges. There are several collaborative robots available to be used in for instance automated material handling applications, pick-and-place applications, smart logistics and human-cobot collaboration. As a Robot Operating System (ROS) knowledge institute, engineers, researchers and students can experience what is feasible to standardize various programming tasks and to integrate robotic systems in an industrial environment. In additional, the Smart Industrial Systems lab provides training and courses to industry and students to become robotic systems professionals. The ground robots (so the non-aerial ones) can be tested in the mobile ground robotics lab. There is room for assembling (larger) mobile robots or developing SLAM (Simultaneous Location And Mapping).
In this lab, the physics of our (aerial) robots can be tested in a controlled environment. The facilities include a gyroscopic test setup, that can tune the set up of drone controls, while limiting or prescribing the movement of the aerial robots.
Also trust forces from motors/propellors can be measured, to optimize motor performances and determine the influence of characteristics on physical behaviour.
The rapid prototyping lab gives the researchers and students the opportunity to make prototypes in an easy and fast way. For this, 3D printers and soldering units are available.
In the mechanical workshop, the most common mechanical machinery, like milling, CNC and lathe can be used for prototyping or adjusting our robotic set ups and test environments.
- SPOT from Boston Dynamics / Clearpath
- Mechanical workshop
- Electric workshop
- 3D printers
- UR5 robot arm
- Frank Emika Panda robot arm
- Clearpath Dingo ground robot
- Various custom ground robots
Variety of drones, including:
- Acecore Zoe
- DJI Matrice M600
- DJI Matrice M100
- Holybro x500
- Several custom drones
More information about our Lab Facilities?
Feel free to contact us!
Subsidy options
There are various subsidies available for the practice-oriented research that we conduct.
A RAAK subsidy is a larger 2-year research project with at least 6 SME partners (RAAK-MKB) or public partners (RAAK-Public). An in-kind contribution is requested from the partners, which can be working hours from their staff, or material/facilities contributions.
TechForFuture is an expertise centre for applied research in High Tech Systems and Materials. This expertise centre is formed by Saxion and Windesheim.
Within this, research is conducted into key technologies that can be widely used to enable new solutions for business and society.
Within Europe there are also various subsidy possibilities for collaboration between Companies and Research Institutes. For example, there are the Eurostars, EFRO, Interreg and Horizon programs within which cooperation with European parties is possible.
A KIEM subsidy offers the possibility to perform an exploratory study with a lead time of maximum 1 year. An in-kind contribution is requested from the partners, which can be working hours from their staff, or material/ facilities contributions.
In addition to the various subsidy streams, we can also carry out paid research projects that fall within our expertise, for example to investigate a specific problem with the partner.
Do you have any questions or would you like to collaborate? Please contact us so we can discuss the possibilities.
Quality assurance
We achieve quality assurance by making clear agreements with partners, so that everyone knows their responsibilities. We apply known and new techniques in a transparent manner, monitor progress closely and ensure open communication throughout the entire project.
The track record of our previous projects and returning partners over the past 10 years demonstrates the high-quality research outputs of our research group. The research group has grown into a reliable partner for applied research in Robotics, Mechatronics, and AI.
Quality of research is very important at Saxion. Together we work on a strong quality culture, using widely supported and workable instruments and facilitated by quality assurance employees specifically for research. We look at what is going well and how we can further utilise that. In this way, quality assurance supports the design and implementation of practice-oriented research with impact. We use the national standards that apply to conducting practice-oriented research, the Brancheprotocol Kwaliteitszorg Onderzoek. By organising quality assurance smartly, we are continuously inspectable. We endorse the Nederlandse Gedragscode Wetenschappelijke Integriteit.