2023-10-29 17:30:00
In the CREATE laboratory of the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL), under the direction of Josie Hughes, an important discovery was made in the field of soft robotics. Taking inspiration from the versatile movement of elephant trunks and octopus tentacles, the team introduced the pruned heliocoid – a new robotic structure that promises greater compliance and control in robotic designs.
Through a combination of keen biological observation and computational modeling, researchers have now unveiled a soft robot arm capable of complex tasks, ensuring safer human-robot interactions.
A new structure for soft robotics
Professor Hughes highlighted the importance of this development: “ Thanks to the invention of a new architectural structure, the pruned heliocoid, we have designed a robot arm that excels in control, range of movement, and safety. When the new architecture is combined with distributed action – where multiple actuators are placed throughout a structure or device – this robot arm has a wide range of motion, high precision, and is inherently safe for use. human interaction. »
While traditional robots are rigid, often making them unsuitable for delicate tasks or close human interactions, CREATE’s soft robot arm is designed for safer interactions with humans and adaptability to a wider variety of tasks.
With an unprecedented combination of flexibility and precision, the arm’s soft and compliant nature reduces potential risks during human-robot interactions. This opens doors for its application in healthcare, elderly care, and more.
Varied and promising applications
Unlike their rigid counterparts, the soft robot arm can adapt to different shapes and surfaces, making it ideal for complex tasks like picking fruit or handling fragile objects.
In manufacturing, it might become the solution of choice for delicate assembly lines, working alongside humans, increasing their capacity instead of replacing them.
The agricultural industry might also benefit from its gentle handling of crops, supporting workers to ease their workload during intense harvest periods.
Innovative architecture
The heart of the research lies in the innovative architecture of the robotic arm. Researchers have creatively modified a spring-like spiral, which they call a ‘heliocoid‘, pruning parts of it to give it various functionalities. This seemingly simple act allowed them to precisely control how the spiral becomes flexible or rigid in different directions.
By adjusting its shape, they can make the inner part resistant to crushing and the outer part flexible enough to bend easily.
Synthetic
The advances made by the Swiss University symbolize a crucial change in the field of robotics. Traditional robotic applications, dominated by rigid mechanics, might see a shift towards this softer, more human-friendly counterpart. A patent has been filed for this first commercial soft manipulator, and a joint EPFL and TU Delft start-up has been launched under the name Helix Robotics.
As Professor Hughes sums it up, “ Merging keen observations of nature with precise computational modeling has revealed the potential of soft robotics for future commercial applications. Moving forward, our goal is to bring robots closer to humans, not only in proximity but also in understanding and collaboration. We hope this soft robot arm exemplifies a future where machines assist, complement, and understand human needs more deeply than ever before. »
For a better understanding
What is pruned heliocoid?
The pruned heliocoid is a new robotic structure developed by the EPFL CREATE laboratory team. It is inspired by the versatile movement of elephant trunks and octopus tentacles, and promises greater compliance and control in robotic designs.
What are the advantages of this soft robot arm?
The soft robot arm excels in control, range of motion, and safety. It has a wide range of motion, high precision, and is inherently safe for human interaction. Additionally, it is able to adapt to different shapes and surfaces, making it ideal for complex tasks.
What are the potential applications of this soft robot arm?
The soft robot arm can be used in healthcare, elderly care, industry, and agriculture. It can be used for delicate tasks like picking fruit or handling fragile objects, and can work alongside humans, augmenting their capacity instead of replacing them.
Researchers have modified a spring-like spiral, which they call a ‘heliocoid’, by pruning parts of it to give it various functionalities. They used computational methods to evaluate the optimal geometric structure for maximum workspace and compliance.
What does this mean for the future of robotics?
This advance symbolizes a crucial change in the field of robotics. Traditional robotic applications, dominated by rigid mechanics, might see a shift towards this softer, more human-friendly counterpart. A joint EPFL and TU Delft start-up has been launched under the name Helix Robotics.
The results, detailing both structure and methodology, are a collaboration with the Department of Cognitive Robotics at TU Delft and have been published in Nature’s new journal, npj Robotics (“Trimmed helicoids: an architectured soft structure yielding soft robots with high precision, large workspace, and compliant interactions). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44182-023-00004-7
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