Newsletter June 2025

Latest news:

Stuttgart, March 2025, LogiMAT 2025: KELO Robotics presents a new line of drives KD 165s and a collaborative pallet mover PM 1500 based on this new drive.

In parallel to its development of modular mobile robots and mobile manipulators, the KELO ROBILE rapid prototyping kit – KELO Robotics is applying its design philosophy of mobile and configurable robots in the field of logistics robots. Two recent results of this work are the KELO Drive KD165s and the collaborative pallet mover KELO PM 1500. 

A single KD165s alone has a payload of 500 kg. Similar to the other drives in the KELO Drive family the KD165s is omnidirectional and back-drivable. The wheels have a diameter of 165 mm. The KD165s has been designed with functional safety certification in mind. The certification process progress in coordination with an accredited body has been started but will approximately take two years to be finished. In the meantime, a version KD165 (without postfix “s”) will become commercially available before the end of 2025. Once certified, the KD165s can be used as a safety-related component in any robot. 

Robotic wall based on KELO ROBILE KU Leuven Research[x]Design Department of Architecture

Leuven, May 2025. KU Leuven, Research[x]Design, Department of Architecture adds another robotic wall to their self-organizing office based on KELO ROBILE.

The research team Research[x]Design at KU Leuven, headed by Prof. Andrew Vande Moere and Dr. Alex Nguyen, is working on a highly innovative architectural design concept of a self-organizing office space. Key elements in this design concept are the robotized walls. 

Based on a button-press the robotized walls change their position in the room and create arbitrary new office configurations. The Research[x]Design team has meanwhile three walls in operation. The team benefits from the modularity of the KELO ROBILE kit in two ways: it can design arbitrary walls and it can expand the concept at any time based on the available budget.

Basel, May 2025. Future Labs Live 2025: KELO Robotics presents a modular mobile manipulator for lab automation.

Stakeholder in the field of lab automation gathered for their annual meeting Future Labs Live in Basel. The event is a mixture between technical conference and exhibition. For customers, high modularity, configurability, customizability, and maneuverability are key requirements for solutions in lab automation with mobile robots and mobile manipulators. This was emphasized in a number of talks and podium discussions.

The KELO ROBILE rapid prototyping kit for autonomous, modular, customizable, omnidirectional mobile robots and in combination with a collaborative robot arm perfectly meets these requirements. Accordingly, the mobile manipulator presented by KELO Robotics attracted quite a bit of attention of both end-customers as well as system integrators which automate entire labs with various technologies.

KELO modular mobile manipulator at Future Labs Live 2025
KELO ROBILE tutorials

Augsburg, May 2025. A series of video tutorials showing the assembly and set up of a ROBILE standard configuration is now available.

KELO has created a series of three video tutorials showing the coming about of a ROBILE standard configuration. The first tutorial illustrates the mechanical assembly of the six modules, the second one the cabling to a full-fledged mobile platform. The third video finally shows the installation of the open-source software package KELO Tulip that enables the user to control the linear and angular velocity of the platform.

Watch tutorials

Upcoming events:

automatica 2025, 24 – 27.06.2025

KELO will be exhibiting its latest drive KD165, a mobile manipulator based on ROBILE, and its new pallet mover KELO PM 1500. Get a free ticket (send an email to info@kelo-robotics.com) and visit us at booth hall A4 booth 210.

KELO Robotics at automatica2025

Webinar (co-hosted with Hokuyo): AMR 101 – Build an Autonomous Mobile Robot from scratch, June 18 2025: from 15:00–16:30 (CET)

In collaboration with experts in LiDAR-based navigation from Hokuyo we will make an exciting deep dive into autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) designing and operation.

The seminar will cover the following topics:

  • What AMRs are and how they function
  • Build the hardware of an omnidirectional AMR
  • Setting up a navigation stack based on ROS2 navigation
  • How LiDAR and safety scanners power AMRs
  • How KELO and Hokuyo products support your future robotics projects

Location: Online (Link will be circulated with the confirmation of the registration)

Free registration

Our products

We have implemented the platform concept in a number of off-the-shelve robots. We use similar or identical component across different models of mobile robots each serving a specific task. The robots themselves can be easily scaled and adapted to the needs of customers in terms of payload,
vehicle geometry, or design.

Our robots can operate in two modes: They can either operate fully autonomously or interactively support human workers in accomplishing their tasks.

  • They operate autonomously and transport loads as long as there is no interaction with a human worker.
  • When they approach a human or an obstacle they reduce their speed AND their kinetic energy and then keep moving at a kinetic energy level, which cannot cause any harm or damage.
  • When a contact is established by a human worker for example by grasping a haptic interface the robots go in an interactive operation mode. In this mode they can be arbitrarily pushed back or moved around with a minimal amount of force.
  • On the press of a button they go back into autonomous mode and continue executing their task.
KELO products

...safer,

Our robots are inherently safe. Inherent safety means that our robots can be pushed back or aside if they get into a human's way or approach the human in an undesired way. Humans and robot can safely move side-by-side even in narrow space. This property will be indispensable for future generations of mobile service robots, which shall operate in close proximity to humans. The robots inherit this property from our KELO drives. Our drives do not have gearboxes and can be stopped and pushed back, even when they are actuated. The drives have a Caster-wheel suspension like the wheels of a shopping cart. These two properties together make our robots inherently safe. Their use will increase the safety in your facility and decrease the number of accidents.

...greener,

Our robots have a payload to weight ratio of 5:1, while comparable robots have typically a ratio of around 2:1 or even less. This means that our robots consume significantly less power since they have to move much less total weight at the same payload. Furthermore, our robots are omni-directional. They can move almost instantly in any direction and in any orientation. They can navigate more efficiently, which increase throughput and reduces time and energy consumption.

...customizable,

Our robots can be customized to a customer’s need very quickly. We have adopted a design concept, which was initially developed in the automotive industry: the platform concept. Our robots are built of a construction kit of modular, quasi standardized components. The modularity of our components together with the high configurability of our KELO drives enables us to (re-)design our robots according to a customer’s needs with limited effort and in a short period of time. Furthermore, using the same components in different robot models facilitates economy of scale and reduces cost both in development and in series production.

...more efficient!

Our robots are collaborative. They can interact with human workers and support them in the execution of their task. It is a meanwhile widely adopted insight that full automation in many industrial contexts is a dead end and that teams consisting of humans and robots can reduce idle times and increase efficiency to a significant extent. (see white paper World Economic Forum 2020). A prerequisite is that humans and robots can interact smoothly and intuitively. Our robots have this ability. As a matter of fact our robots can improve the efficiency of your operations by 40% or more.

...safer,

Our robots are inherently safe. They can be pushed back or aside if they get into a human's way or approach the human in an undesired way. Humans and robot can safely move side-by-side even in narrow space. This property will be indispensable for future generations of mobile service robots, which shall operate in close proximity to humans. The robots inherit this property from our KELO drives. Our drives do not have gearboxes and can be stopped and pushed back, even when they are actuated. The drives have a Caster-wheel suspension like the wheels of a shopping cart. These two properties together make our robots inherently safe. Their use will increase the safety in your facility and decrease the number of accidents.

...greener,

Our robots have a payload to weight ratio of 5:1, while comparable robots have typically a ratio of around 2:1 or even less. This means that our robots consume significantly less power since they have to move much less total weight at the same payload. Furthermore, our robots are omni-directional. They can move almost instantly in any direction and in any orientation. They can navigate more efficiently, which increase throughput and reduces time and energy consumption.

...customizable,

Our robots can be customized to a customer’s need very quickly. We have adopted a design concept, which was initially developed in the automotive industry: the platform concept. Our robots are built of a construction kit of modular, quasi standardized components. The modularity of our components together with the high configurability of our KELO drives enables us to (re-)design our robots according to a customer’s needs with limited effort and in a short period of time. Furthermore, using the same components in different robot models facilitates economy of scale and reduces cost both in development and in series production.

...more efficient!

Our robots are collaborative. They can interact with human workers and support them in the execution of their task. It is a meanwhile widely adopted insight that full automation in many industrial contexts is a dead end and that teams consisting of humans and robots can reduce idle times and increase efficiency to a significant extent. (see white paper World Economic Forum 2020). A prerequisite is that humans and robots can interact smoothly and intuitively. Our robots have this ability. As a matter of fact our robots can improve the efficiency of your operations by 40% or more.

...safer,

Our robots are inherently safe. They can be pushed back or aside if they get into a human's way or approach the human in an undesired way. Humans and robot can safely move side-by-side even in narrow space. This property will be indispensable for future generations of mobile service robots, which shall operate in close proximity to humans. The robots inherit this property from our KELO drives. Our drives do not have gearboxes and can be stopped and pushed back, even when they are actuated. The drives have a Caster-wheel suspension like the wheels of a shopping cart. These two properties together make our robots inherently safe. Their use will increase the safety in your facility and decrease the number of accidents.

...greener,

Our robots have a payload to weight ratio of 5:1, while comparable robots have typically a ratio of around 2:1 or even less. This means that our robots consume significantly less power since they have to move much less total weight at the same payload. Furthermore, our robots are omni-directional. They can move almost instantly in any direction and in any orientation. They can navigate more efficiently, which increase throughput and reduces time and energy consumption.

...customizable,

Our robots can be customized to a customer’s need very quickly. We have adopted a design concept, which was initially developed in the automotive industry: the platform concept. Our robots are built of a construction kit of modular, quasi standardized components. The modularity of our components together with the high configurability of our KELO drives enables us to (re-)design our robots according to a customer’s needs with limited effort and in a short period of time. Furthermore, using the same components in different robot models facilitates economy of scale and reduces cost both in development and in series production.

...more efficient!

Our robots are collaborative. They can interact with workers and support them in the execution of their task. It is a meanwhile widely adopted insight that full automation in many industrial contexts is a dead end and that teams consisting of humans and robots can reduce idle times and increase efficiency to a significant extent. (see white paper World Economic Forum 2020). A prerequisite is that humans and robots can interact smoothly and intuitively. Our robots have this ability. As a matter of fact our robots can improve the efficiency of your operations by 40% or more.

...safer,

Our robots are inherently safe. They can be pushed back or aside if they get into a human's way or approach the human in an undesired way. Humans and robot can safely move side-by-side even in narrow space. This property will be indispensable for future generations of mobile service robots, which shall operate in close proximity to humans. The robots inherit this property from our KELO drives. Our drives do not have gearboxes and can be stopped and pushed back, even when they are actuated. The drives have a Caster-wheel suspension like the wheels of a shopping cart. These two properties together make our robots inherently safe. Their use will increase the safety in your facility and decrease the number of accidents.

...greener,

Our robots have a payload to weight ratio of 5:1, while comparable robots have typically a ratio of around 2:1 or even less. This means that our robots consume significantly less power since they have to move much less total weight at the same payload. Furthermore, our robots are omni-directional. They can move almost instantly in any direction and in any orientation. They can navigate more efficiently, which increase throughput and reduces time and energy consumption.

...customizable,

Our robots can be customized to a customer’s need very quickly. We have adopted a design concept, which was initially developed in the automotive industry: the platform concept. Our robots are built of a construction kit of modular, quasi standardized components. The modularity of our components together with the high configurability of our KELO drives enables us to (re-)design our robots according to a customer’s needs with limited effort and in a short period of time. Furthermore, using the same components in different robot models facilitates economy of scale and reduces cost both in development and in series production.

...more efficient!

Our robots are collaborative. They can interact with workers and support them in the execution of their task. It is a meanwhile widely adopted insight that full automation in many industrial contexts is a dead end and that teams consisting of humans and robots can reduce idle times and increase efficiency to a significant extent. (see white paper World Economic Forum 2020). A prerequisite is that humans and robots can interact smoothly and intuitively. Our robots have this ability. As a matter of fact our robots can improve the efficiency of your operations by 40% or more.

...cheaper,

Our robots come at a fraction of the price of comparable robots. To achieve this cost reduction, we have transferred the platform concept, which was developed in automotive industry and has led to significant cost savings there, into the design of mobile service robots. Our robots are built off a set of re-usable functional modules. Using the same components in different robot models facilitates economy of scale and reduces cost both in development and in series production …

greener,

Our robots have a payload to weight ratio of 9:1, while comparable robots have typically a ratio of around 3:1 or even less. This means that our robots consume significantly less power since they have to move much less total weight at the same payload. Furthermore, our robots are omni-directional. They can move almost instantly in any direction and in any orientation. They can navigate more efficiently, which increase throughput and reduces time and energy consumption…

safer!

Our robots are inherently safe. Inherent safety means that our robots can be pushed back or aside if they get into a human's way or approach the human in an undesired way. Humans and robot can safely move side-by-side even in narrow space. This property will be indispensable for future generations of mobile service robots, which shall operate in close proximity to humans. The robots inherit this property from our KELO drives. Our drives do not have gearboxes and can be pushed back, even when they are actuated. The drives have a Caster-wheel suspension like the wheels of a shopping cart. These two properties together make our robots inherently safe

...cheaper,

Our robots come at a fraction of the price of comparable robots. To achieve this cost reduction, we have transferred the platform concept, which was developed in automotive industry and has led to significant cost savings there, into the design of mobile service robots. Our robots are built off a set of re-usable functional modules. Using the same components in different robot models facilitates economy of scale and reduces cost both in development and in series production …

greener,

Our robots have a payload to weight ratio of 9:1, while comparable robots have typically a ratio of around 3:1 or even less. This means that our robots consume significantly less power since they have to move much less total weight at the same payload. Furthermore, our robots are omni-directional. They can move almost instantly in any direction and in any orientation. They can navigate more efficiently, which increase throughput and reduces time and energy consumption…

safer!

Our robots are inherently safe. Inherent safety means that our robots can be pushed back or aside if they get into a human's way or approach the human in an undesired way. Humans and robot can safely move side-by-side even in narrow space. This property will be indispensable for future generations of mobile service robots, which shall operate in close proximity to humans. The robots inherit this property from our KELO drives. Our drives do not have gearboxes and can be pushed back, even when they are actuated. The drives have a Caster-wheel suspension like the wheels of a shopping cart. These two properties together make our robots inherently safe

...cheaper,

Our robots come at a fraction of the price of comparable robots. To achieve this cost reduction, we have transferred the platform concept, which was developed in automotive industry and has led to significant cost savings there, into the design of mobile service robots. Our robots are built off a set of re-usable functional modules. Using the same components in different robot models facilitates economy of scale and reduces cost both in development and in series production.

greener,

Our robots have a payload to weight ratio of 9:1, while comparable robots have typically a ratio of around 3:1 or even less. This means that our robots consume significantly less power since they have to move much less total weight at the same payload. Furthermore, our robots are omni-directional. They can move almost instantly in any direction and in any orientation. They can navigate more efficiently, which increases throughput and reduces time and energy consumption.

safer!

Our robots are inherently safe. Inherent safety means that our robots can be pushed back or aside if they get into a human's way or approach the human in an undesired way. Humans and robot can safely move side-by-side even in narrow space. This property will be indispensable for future generations of mobile service robots, which shall operate in close proximity to humans. The robots inherit this property from our KELO drives. Our drives do not have gearboxes and can be pushed back, even when they are actuated. The drives have a Caster-wheel suspension like the wheels of a shopping cart. These two properties together make our robots inherently safe.