In April, we had the privilege of visiting our Core-Team partner Algoryx Simulation in Umeå. Hosted by CEO Kenneth Bodin and the dedicated WARA team — Fredrik, Viktor, and Philip — we explored the cutting edge of physics simulation technology and its impact on robotics research.
Our visit offered a deep dive into the latest developments in AGX Dynamics, Algoryx’s powerful physics engine. We were particularly impressed by innovations in granular material simulation, advanced lidar-based sensing, and OpenPLX, their newly released open-source modeling language designed to make dynamic system modeling more accessible and flexible.
Beyond the technical highlights, the visit sparked rich discussions on the future of WARA Robotics and, more broadly, the trajectory of robotics research in Sweden and across Europe. Together, we emphasized the growing importance of physics modeling and physics-informed AI in meeting the challenges of an increasingly complex robotic landscape.
We’re also thrilled to announce an exciting new collaboration: Algoryx will partner with us to develop a digital twin of the Mobile YuMi robot, to be featured in the upcoming WARA Robotics Mobile Manipulation Challenge. This marks a major step forward in blending simulation and real-world experimentation to accelerate innovation in mobile manipulation.
A huge thank you to the Algoryx team for the warm welcome, insightful conversations, and continued partnership!
As part of our trip to Umeå, we had the pleasure of visiting Umeå University, where we met with Prof. Martin Servin, head of the Digital Physics Group at the UMIT Research Lab. Our discussions focused on the group’s growing role in WARA Robotics, especially in light of their recent acquisition of two ABB GoFa collaborative robots — an exciting addition that will support both research and hands-on experimentation.
The GoFa setup will be a shared resource among several departments, and we were fortunate to also meet with Prof. Leonid Freidovich (Department of Applied Physics and Electronics), as well as Professors Suna Bensch, Polina Kurster, and Zoe Falomir from the Department of Computer Science. Their diverse expertise and enthusiasm signal a strong and expanding commitment to advancing robotics research within the WARA framework.
We’re particularly excited about the involvement of PhD students in upcoming WARA activities and look forward to following their progress — and to welcoming them soon at future events.
