HERON and Athena RC at TIF 2026: Robotics for Safer and Smarter Interaction

The 90th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF 2026) once again brought innovation and research into the spotlight, offering visitors the opportunity to discover the latest developments in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. HERON, in collaboration with the Institute of Robotics of Athena Research Center, presented innovative robotic applications and research showcasing the potential of intelligent robotic systems.

At the Ministry of Development Pavilion, numerous visitors had the opportunity to explore interactive demonstrations, engage with our researchers, and experience firsthand how robotics, Virtual and Augmented Reality, and AI are shaping the future of intelligent and human-centred technologies. 

Researchers & Demos Presented at TIF 2026

George Moustris: Remote Robotic Inspection of Electrical Substations through Augmented Reality
A robotic system for the remote inspection of high-voltage substations using VR and AR, enabling safer, faster, and more accurate inspections. Operators can control the robot remotely while receiving a live 360° view and real-time equipment data through AR. The system also features assisted navigation for safe movement around obstacles. The work was developed with support from the HERON and JARVIS Horizon Europe projects.

Nikos Kardaris: Robots with Human-Like Perception: From Vision to physical Interaction
Research on robot perception and human-robot interaction, demonstrating how robots can perceive people, objects, and their environment and adapt accordingly. The exhibit showcased 3D analysis of facial expressions and body posture for natural human-robot interaction, as well as robotic manipulation of deformable objects and autonomous exploration of previously unseen objects. The research aims to move robotics from pre-programmed actions towards robots that can perceive, understand, and adapt. 

Connecting Research with Society

The strong interest of visitors at TIF 2026 highlighted the growing role of Robotics and AI in addressing real-world challenges. Through interactive demonstrations and direct engagement with researchers, HERON and Athena Research Center continue to bring advanced research closer to society and showcase the potential of intelligent robotic systems to create safer, smarter, and more human-centred solutions.