Objective
ARAL (AI-driven Robotic Assistant for Logistics) aims to develop a bipedal, AI-driven humanoid platform capable of executing a broad range of warehouse operations in human-centric, high-throughput logistics centres. The goal is a single embodied system that can safely navigate dense layouts, interact with existing industrial equipment and shelving, and manipulate a wide variety of objects and payloads (from deformable textiles and hanging garments to cartons, containers and heterogeneous goods) without major infrastructure changes. This directly addresses a key limitation of current warehouse automation, which is largely optimised for rigid, standardised flows and struggles with high variability, frequent task switching and safe operation close to people.
Starting from a TRL 4 humanoid platform (Kangaroo), ARAL advances disruptive Physical AI capabilities aligned with the Challenge requirements, combining intelligent perception and cognition, adaptive learning and optimisation, and novel physical integration to enable robust, low-latency decision-making and compliant manipulation in real operational conditions. The project is driven by clear end-user needs: stabilising throughput under peak demand, reducing error-prone manual handling and rework, improving operator ergonomics and safety, and enabling fast deployment in legacy facilities through standard interfaces and straightforward on-site operation.
Market pull is substantiated through Letters of Interest from Inditex and Decathlon, and additional end-user workshops will refine requirements and extend adoption opportunities across the wider retail logistics ecosystem. By enabling deployable embodied AI in existing logistics centres, ARAL opens a structurally underserved automation segment, creating a blue-ocean opportunity and strengthening European competitiveness through standardisable, export-ready Physical AI solutions with cross-sector scalability.
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.
- social sciences sociology industrial relations automation
- engineering and technology materials engineering textiles
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- social sciences psychology ergonomics
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
HORIZON.3.1.3 - Additional EIC activities
See all projects funded under this programme
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
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
08005 BARCELONA
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
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.