iCobot

Digital further development in study execution at the Study Center

An idea developed into a new world of possibilities for us and our study participants.

“iCobot” is the keyword that stands for the automation of processes and workflows. We are also facing major challenges in the Study Center as a result of the digital transformation. Work processes are being critically scrutinized and optimized with the help of new technical solutions. Without this automation, we will soon no longer be able to cope with the multitude of new tasks and at the same time achieve the best possible results for high-quality products.

How did the idea for iCobot come about?

Our colleague Olaf Rieckmann, team leader in Future Testing, regularly promotes the exchange of knowledge with external experts as part of his work. At one event, brainstorming discussions were held with the Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau, which ultimately led to the development of the iCobot project. From this point on, work began on the implementation with many supporters. Together, the iCobot was developed as a prototype and intensively tested. In 2024, the iCobot was finally presented to the general public.

What exactly is iCobot?

Our iCobot is essentially a computer-controlled arm with which we can carry out various measurement methods. The basic idea is to carry out robot-assisted dermatological measurements on study participants. Humans and robots work closely together and share a common workstation.

What is the goal for the future use of iCobot?

Our aim is to use the iCobot to carry out a high number of measurement repetitions with consistently high quality. The technology also gives us more flexibility in terms of throughput and the scheduling of studies – in theory, we could even offer a 24-hour service, seven days a week. However, this is still a long way off!

Where do we use iCobot in the Study Center?

As a first step, we are using our iCobot to measure skin moisture (Corneometer ®) or transepidermal water loss (Tewameter ®).

This will of course be expanded in the future.

As a study participant, will I be sitting alone in the study room with the iCobot?

Of course, no study participant sits alone in the room with the iCobot. There are always people conducting the study or those responsible nearby. However, our long-term goal is to conduct studies faster and more efficiently without compromising the quality of the measurements. We would like to operate several measuring stations simultaneously so that several study participants can take part in different measurements in one room at the same time.