This robot features detachable hand that crawls to grab objects
What's the story
A group of researchers from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland has hit a major milestone in the world of robotics.
They've come up with a mind-blowing robotic hand that can detach from its arm, and roam around to grab stuff all on its own.
This cool gadget was recently shown off at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), according to IEEE Spectrum.
Research objectives
The goal of the research
The main goal behind this project at EPFL's Learning Algorithms and Systems Laboratory (LASA) was to make a bimodal robotic hand.
This special design would boost the grabbing power of standard robotic arms, which are usually fixed to the ground or other surfaces for stability.
The team aimed to ensure their creation could work independently from its main arm when needed, allowing it to reach further than usual.
Design evolution
Design process of the robot
To develop a robotic hand that could grip stuff and move around on its own, the team turned to a genetic algorithm and the MuJoCo physics simulator.
These handy tools helped them tweak their initial design and see how practical it really was.
During this process, they figured out that five fingers, arranged like a human hand, was the best design for their cool invention.
Special characteristics
Unique features of the robotic hand
The team's robotic hand has got this magnetic connector at the wrist, that lets it hook up and unhook from an arm all by itself.
And get this—its fingers can bend both ways! That means some can lift stuff while others can act like tiny legs.
This design makes it super handy when it's attached to a robot arm, allowing it to lift multiple items at once without needing to twist the arm around to reposition any unused fingers.
Future uses
Potential applications of the robotic hand
This nifty gadget isn't just about extending a robotic arm's reach. It's also way smaller than robots like Boston Dynamics's Spot, which can cruise around on four legs.
Think about it: a robot with a free-moving hand could be better at exploring or analyzing tight spots.
So, this invention could really shake things up for the future of robotics!