EP.31 ROBOSNAILS - FROM NATURE TO ROBOTICS
A quadruped that became a biped, a swarm of robosnails, an affordable humanoid from Unitree & much more ...
Robosnails inspired by nature! 🐌
Researchers have developed a swarm of snail-inspired robots that can traverse, climb, and work together to overcome challenging terrain. These robo-snails are capable of scaling buildings or vertical surfaces individually, or combining to manipulate objects or cover difficult ground.
Inspired by the unique abilities of white jade land snails, the team created robots with two modes: free mode, which uses lightweight rubber tracks for locomotion, and strong mode, which employs a vacuum-style sucker to adhere to other robots. This dual-mode attachment allows the robots to connect to each other at multiple points, enabling them to cross obstacles that would be impossible for a single robot.
Unlike traditional swarm robots, which typically connect at only one point, these snail robots can form a strong and secure attachment using magnetic adhesion and suction force. This allows them to work together to achieve tasks that would be difficult or impossible for a single robot.
The potential applications of these robots are vast, including search and rescue situations, environmental monitoring, and more. By mimicking the collaborative power of animal swarms, these robots could revolutionize the way we approach complex tasks in challenging environments.
Learn more about snails.. I mean robo-snails 🐌 → [read more here]
Robotic hand that survives hammer hits and piston smashes! 🪬
The Shadow Hand, developed by the UK-based Shadow Robot Company, boasts extremely fast and flexible finger movements, while also being tough enough to survive intense damage. Researchers at DeepMind are experimenting with a nearly indestructible robot hand, designed to withstand the rigors of trial-and-error interactions required to train AI robots.
The robot hand can open and close in just 500 milliseconds and perform a fingertip pinch with up to 10 newtons of force. It can also withstand repeated punishment, such as pistons punching the fingers from multiple angles or a person smashing the device with a hammer. This robust design makes it well-suited for AI-powered robotics experiments based on reinforcement learning.
The hand's modular design allows for easy modification and repair, with each finger being a separate component that can be swiftly swapped out in case of damage. Hundreds of sensors on the fingertips and dozens on the other finger segments provide precise feedback, while tiny cameras inside the robotic fingers' silicone skin help detect the hardness and shape of objects.
While the Shadow Hand may be more expensive than other options, its advanced sensing and object-handling capabilities make it an attractive choice for research labs and companies looking to push the boundaries of AI robotics.
Humanoid for less than $15,000! 💰
Unitree's latest humanoid robot, the G1 Humanoid Agent, is a versatile and impressive all-rounder. With a starting price of $16,000, it's a more affordable option compared to its predecessor, the H1, which had a price tag of $90,000.
The G1 humanoid boasts a range of advanced features, including a helmet head with 3D LiDAR sensors and a depth camera, human-like robotic hands, and three-fingered grippers. It's also capable of withstanding brutal kicks and punches, recovering well after being subjected to physical abuse (I never liked this kind of showcase tbh)
In a demonstration video, the G1 humanoid showcases its skills in the kitchen, bashing walnuts with ease. It's also shown to be capable of twisting and twirling, thanks to its "extra large joint movement." The robot's joints have between 23 and 43 degrees of freedom, producing a maximum torque of up to 120 Nm.
The G1 humanoid is powered by eight high-performance cores, with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. It has a running speed of 2 meters per second and a per-charge battery life of around 2 hours. Weighing around 35 kg, it can fold down to compact proportions for easy transport.
Unitree is offering a standard G1 model and an enhanced educational model, with some functions still under development. Nevertheless, the G1 Humanoid Agent marks an impressive debut, offering a capable and affordable robot helper, assembly line operative, or research tool.
Meme of the week 🤖
Why did the robot blush?
Because it finally realized it wasn't just a 'hard drive' – it had feelings too! 🥁
Learn how to model and control wheel-legged robots 🛞🦿
In this course, participants delve into the intricate world of hybrid-legged and wheeled robots using Simulink® and Simscape™. By focusing on modeling and controlling these unique robots, the course provides a comprehensive understanding of how to navigate the complexities of their combined locomotion systems.
After completing this course, you will be able to:
Modeling the dynamics of wheel-legged robots for design feasibility exploration.
Developing closed-loop control systems to balance and reliably control motion.
Integrating Simulink® and Simscape™ for comprehensive robot design and control.
Quadruped that evolves into a biped! 🤯
LimX Dynamics' W1 quadruped robot has evolved to stand and walk upright on its hind legs, a significant upgrade from its previous quadruped walking gait. This new capability allows the robot to adopt a human-like form, making it suitable for tasks that require a more upright posture.
The W1 robot can seamlessly transition from quadruped to biped mode in under one second, standing 152 cm tall once fully upright. While in biped mode, it can rotate 360 degrees on the spot, make 90-degree turns, and navigate through tight spaces. The robot's ability to recover from collisions without falling over is also an impressive feature.
Although the robot's bipedal rolling speed has not been disclosed, it can reach speeds of up to 36 km/h when rolling on all four wheels. The W1's versatility makes it an attractive option for various applications, including warehouses and other settings where a robot needs to interact with its environment in a more human-like way.
While the robot's capabilities are impressive, some questions remain unanswered, such as whether it can climb stairs in biped mode or perform tasks that require grasping items with its front legs while standing.
New cobots from Kawasaki Robotics! 🦾
Kawasaki Robotics has unveiled its new CL Series of collaborative robots, which combine the safety and intuitiveness of cobots with the robust design of industrial robots.
The CL Series is designed to offer the speed and productivity of industrial robotics, while maintaining the safety and ease of use of collaborative robots. The robots, developed in partnership with NEURA Robotics, feature a robust design, high repeatability, and accuracy, making them suitable for a wide range of applications.
The new cobots have payload capacities and reaches of up to 10 kg and 1,300 mm, respectively, and can reach speeds of 200º/s. They also feature free mounting orientations, small footprints, and IP66 classification, making them ideal for use in a variety of environments.
Kawasaki Robotics has also developed an intuitive user interface and proprietary safety architecture to facilitate human-robot collaboration. The company's goal is to provide customers with a range of robotic solutions that can help them optimize their production processes and increase productivity.
In addition to the CL Series, Kawasaki Robotics showcased a range of new applications developed in partnership with its technology partners, including an adaptable finishing system, unstructured parcel sorting, and multi-SKU palletizing and depalletizing.
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