110 histórias, 110 objetos (110 anos do Técnico)

How far can an idea go? The first AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicle) were born from a Técnico course created in the 1980s, using the ingenuity of skate wheels and windshield motors purchased at Feira da Ladra, automatically guided. Or the “cangalho” in the affectionate term of its authors. From Técnico to industry it was a small step, with the technology being adapted to create four complex robots for the automatic transport of materials in the factories of the Efacec company. In the 1990s, the scale multiplied again and the knowledge of Técnico / ISR (Institute for Systems and Robotics) would be selected to apply to vehicles (true trucks measuring 8.5 meters long, 2.5 meters wide and 3 meters high) that will have the mission of maintaining the walls of the giant nuclear fusion reactor of ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), one of the largest scientific projects in the area.

• Acknowledgements:
  Carlos Pinto Ferreira
  Isabel Ribeiro
  Jorge Couto

Episode only available in Portuguese in: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Anchor.fm

Further reading and additional audio in the Portuguese version of this webpage.