Having a robot employee at an Estonian company or government organization is more common than you might think.

‘It’s like a Japanese hotel,’ was the reaction of the show host on the stage of Robotex 2018 in Tallinn as Cleveron launched its new self-driving robot courier. The autonomous cargo car is the latest invention of the Viljandi-based company that has installed nearly 1000 robotic parcel stations for Walmart in the US and is piloting small parcel terminals for private homes across Estonia.

The robotics event Robotex International took place for the 18th time in Tallinn from November 30th to December 2nd. Thousands of competitors, students, university students, families and robotics enthusiasts came together to build robots, compete and learn about the most innovative technological developments.

Maarja Kruusmaa founded the Centre of Biorobotics at the Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) in 2008. In 10 years, the centre has become one of the best known and most acknowledged research centres in Estonia and worldwide.

The winter issue of Life in Estonia magazine focuses on robotics: Robotex, world’s first parcel delivery car and other time-saving robotic solutions inside, Maarja Kruusmaa from the Centre of Biorobotics at TalTech on the cover.

Robotex International is an annual event and the biggest robotics festival on the planet. Thousands of engineers, executives, students and families come together to be inspired by industry leaders, examine new startups, build robots for various challenges and learn about the latest technology innovations. Watch the event’s recording right here on this page!

Estonia’s Cleveron will display the world’s first self-driving parcel delivery car on November 30th at the Robotex International Conference in Tallinn.

The small country of Estonia is leading the Western response to Russian ground robots. The tiny country, known among tech enthusiasts for its innovative e-residency program and for hosting NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence, last week announced a new initiative to bring ground robots to Europe’s militaries.

Milrem is testing a new robot in cooperation with Estonia’s rescue services. The robot can be used to save lives in places where it is difficult for human rescuers to go or where large fire trucks cannot reach, such as difficult terrain that is burning.

According to Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, Estonia has unique chances in smart production, robotics, building the factories of the future and Industry 4.0 practices.

The changes planned in Estonian laws governing robotics are quite radical. If the most radical scenario is enforced, robots may even receive the status of a legal entity.

The Estonian defence solutions provider, Milrem Robotics, is expanding the capabilities of its THeMIS unmanned ground vehicle to equip soldiers with several new robotic systems for defence applications.