Objective
"PHYS-EXO proposes a new generation of Embodied Physical AI exoskeletons that move beyond today’s reactive, context-blind wearable robots toward situationally aware, proactive, and human-centric physical assistants. Current industrial and rescue exoskeletons largely rely on posture or motion signals, lacking a real understanding of surrounding hazards, tasks, and spatial context. This limits their effectiveness in safety-critical, unstructured environments where perception, reasoning, and seamless human–AI collaboration are essential.
PHYS-EXO introduces a modular Agentic AI-ready Physical AI pipeline—including Perception, Semantic Mapping (SLAM), Risk Reasoning, Task Planning, and Human-centric Control—embedded in a wearable platform operating in real time and on the edge. The system integrates egocentric multimodal perception, 3D environment reconstruction, task planning and reasoning, and adaptive user-centric control to provide context-aware physical assistance, risk-aware navigation support, and explainable decision guidance to the user.
The project targets two high-impact application areas: (1) ""Disaster response and civil security, through an Urban Search and Rescue"" scenario in a simulated collapsed building, and (2) ""Industrial manual handling"" in a dynamic factory environment with moving robots, restricted zones, and heavy lifting tasks. In both cases, PHYS-EXO aims to reduce physical strain, improve safety, enhance situational awareness, and increase user trust and operational effectiveness.
During Phase 1, PHYS-EXO will extend the existing (TRL 4) SUPSI-IDSIA vision-enabled active back-support exoskeleton with egocentric depth perception, preliminary semantic SLAM, a first-generation AI reasoning layer, and an integrated perception–control loop, reaching TRL 5 through validation in the two above-described relevant environments. Clear KPIs will assess perception accuracy, safe planning, ergonomic benefits, rescue effectiveness, and industrial productivity."
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering ecosystem-based management climate change adaptation
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.3.1.3 - Additional EIC activities
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2026-AIC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
6928 MANNO
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.