Robots Learn from Factory Workers as School Resumes

Czech startup RoboTwin is revolutionizing the way robots learn tasks on factory floors by allowing workers to teach them through demonstration. With its headquarters in Prague, RoboTwin creates handheld devices and no-code software that capture human movements to program industrial robots. This innovation, spearheaded by co-founder and CTO Megi Mejdrechová, aims to make automation more accessible to manufacturers lacking specialized robotics programmers.

RoboTwin enables workers to perform a task once, with the technology converting these actions into robot programs, eliminating the need for complex coding. Mejdrechová, with expertise in AI and robotics, developed the core technology to assist European manufacturers in automating dirty and dangerous tasks traditionally performed by humans.

The startup’s journey began in 2021 when Mejdrechová entered a jump-starter programme, winning the manufacturing category. Together with colleagues Ladislav Dvořák and David Polák, RoboTwin emerged, also drawing support from the Women TechEU initiative. Their technology simplifies automation, allowing quick programming of robots, especially beneficial for SMEs in industries like surface treatment.

RoboTwin’s system involves a sensor-equipped handheld device to record workers performing tasks, such as spray painting, and transposing these movements into robot instructions. This innovation opens possibilities for SMEs to automate without halting production lines or requiring specialist engineers.

Collaborative efforts with companies like Surfin Technology and Innovative Finishing Solutions highlight RoboTwin’s impact in Europe and North America. Armed with a €2.3 million grant from the European Innovation Council in 2025, RoboTwin plans to enhance its technology, integrating stored data to automate complex tasks based on object shapes.

This advancement aims to enable broader automation, empowering factories with the tools to efficiently teach robots new tasks, thus democratizing access to advanced robotics. RoboTwin’s mission is to make robot training accessible to all manufacturers, transcending reliance on large factories with specialized engineers.