Researchers from Switzerland’s EPFL research institute and the Netherlands’ Delft University of Technology have developed an revolutionary and human-friendly robotic arm that takes inspiration from the versatile and mild actions of elephant trunks and octopus tentacles. This prototype robotic arm incorporates a novel “trimmed helicoid” construction and a sequence of electrical actuators organized end-to-end with versatile connectors.
The arm’s outer construction consists of polymer components organized in a springy spiral, permitting it to be externally mushy and pliable, stopping hurt to people it might encounter. Concurrently, it maintains firmness to guard its inner elements, together with actuators and electronics, from impacts.
“Impressed by nature, this robotic arm has an enormous vary of movement, excessive precision, and is inherently protected for human interplay,” says @EPFL_CREATE‘s Josie Hughes. Revealed at this time within the new @NaturePortfolio journal npj Robotics & on @EPFL_en homepagehttps://t.co/gXfL4mIFSO
— EPFL Faculty of Engineering (@EPFLEngineering) October 26, 2023
In comparison with conventional robotic arms with mounted joints on the shoulder, elbow, and wrist, this arm is exceptionally versatile, providing a broader vary of movement. In consequence, it’s well-suited for varied duties, akin to fruit-picking, agricultural work, eldercare, and meeting line operations.
EPFL’s Prof. Josie Hughes, the challenge chief, highlighted the arm’s revolutionary structure and distributed actuation, which includes putting a number of actuators all through the construction, offering exact management, intensive movement capabilities, and inherent security for human interplay. The researchers imagine that this expertise can deal with the necessity for extra versatile and protected robotic programs in quite a lot of purposes.
The robotic arm’s potential has led to its commercialization by way of a by-product firm known as Helix Robotics. Their analysis, detailing the arm’s growth and capabilities, was printed within the journal NPJ Robotics, showcasing the promising way forward for this mushy and adaptable robotic arm in varied industries.
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