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In Focus - Archivo Agosto 2007
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A Sensitive Touch for Sensitive Tasks – Robots in Service Gain Independence
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01.08.2007 -
Fiction and reality become blurred. What was once science fiction is increasingly
taking solid shape. Meanwhile, robots have a firm grip on industrial production. In Germany alone, more than 50,000 robots are employed in the automotive sector – kept in cages to carry out their assigned tasks day after day. Now the next step is about to happen: robots seek the path to independence, thus transcending even the limits of the imagination. "Service robotics" is the name for this widespread development with an uncertain outcome. Robots are being developed for areas of application ranging from entertainment to household help and security service. In the social sector, too, robots are becoming sensitive to the needs of the handicapped or elderly. All of these applications have one thing in common: the robot is leaving its cage to become increasingly independent.
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Apparently easy tasks prove to be a real challenge in service robotics.
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Service robotics covers all robot solutions that go beyond the strictly industrial use in manufacturing. The value of service robotics in industrial applications and also in the domestic domain lies in the fact that it assists people in their work and helps make these tasks easier. Service robotics can also perform monotonous and undemanding, even unpleasant, dirty or dangerous work.
The service robots are equipped with extensive sensor systems for this work, and they adapt themselves to the specific tasks and ambient conditions. They usually operate in unstructured, complex, dynamic and sometimes even dangerous environments. Most of the future tasks assigned to robots will lie in the service sector, and this brings cultural differences to light. While European projects are concerned with social services or topics such as cleanliness and intralogistics, Asian robots are intended more for the field of entertainment and American ones for the security and military sector.
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A study by SCHUNK in collaboration with the University of Linz has shown that humanoid robots that can walk or even climb stairs can be constructed using mechatronic modules.
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Insiders compare the state of robotics today with the 1970s, when no one really knew what a computer could be used for. Thirty years had passed since Konrad Zuse built his Z3 in 1941. The actual development step was in fact just around the corner. Before the computer was able to begin its triumphal advance, the individual components first had to be optimized, the interplay between the components had to be improved through standards and, above all, affordable components had to be developed. The parallels with service robotics are unmistakable. In the absence of common standards, many developers repeatedly started from scratch and developed their own robotics world, resulting in systems that were incompatible with other solutions. Components were too expensive, and the technology was still immature.
As service robotics solutions are usually used for mobile applications, robot components have to be lightweight, compact and frugal in their energy consumption. It is now becoming apparent that development in this field is accelerating greatly. Among the reasons for this are the greater availability of affordable servo technology, the steady improvement in batteries for mobile applications, the falling costs of processing power and sensors as well as the further development of powerful mechatronic rotary and gripper modules.
As one of the market leaders in the field of gripping systems, SCHUNK GmbH & Co. KG, based in Lauffen/Neckar in Germany, has expanded and enhanced its expertise in this field in good time. The gripping system and robotics specialists at SCHUNK use a system of mechatronic modules, ranging from the servo-electric rotary actuator to the complete lightweight arm and the gripper or even the anthropomorphic hand. This system has proven its worth in practice and is constantly being developed.
Complex requirements
Service robots have to detect and assess complex interrelationships and adapt their movements and actions to them within the shortest possible time. A multifaceted technical interplay is essential for this to happen: Laser measuring and image processing systems enable the robot to perceive its environment without contact. Angular, torque and pressure sensors record moments of force, pressure or friction and then permit the robots to move freely and complete friction-locked manipulation tasks.
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Numerous sensors in the SAH ensure its grip is extremely sensitive.
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For this purpose, SCHUNK’s modular robot systems operate on the basis of hierarchically structured control levels functioning in parallel. SCHUNK’s PowerCube elements form the lowest level of the service robot’s system architecture. Articulation functions have been stored as macros in the control systems for these drive elements. A middle control level processes the signals from the sensors and coordinates the movement of various joints. Finally, the highest control level is responsible for the man-machine interaction and controls the link to the process. The service robot joins individual control sequences flexibly and adaptively to create entire functions, known as “service skills,” which can be combined and recombined in new ways. The object of research is for the robot to operate and perform its tasks autonomously.
For a functional interaction with people, in future the robot will have to detect and interpret movements, gestures, even human facial expressions. This is opening up a broad development field, since the visual detection and correct interpretation of human movements is extremely complicated.
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Modular systems drive development forward
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In the past, a major obstacle in the development of service robots suitable for series production was the price. Robot solutions were too expensive even for high-end users. A clear potential for development is currently emerging particularly in this area owing to SCHUNK’s modular mechatronic systems. In contrast to initial series production trials in Asia and the USA, which used cheap components for the mass market, SCHUNK’s industry-quality components make it a partner in the development of production-ready service robotics solutions in the commercial and high-end private sphere. An enormous store of modules permits high-quality solutions to be constructed in modular form at comparatively low costs.
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Dextrous Lightweight Arm LWA 4.10
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SCHUNK’s PRL servo-electric rotary actuator enables the creation of reconfigurable modular robot structures, because the individual PRL modules can be assembled with complete freedom and flexibility using connecting parts to produce an individual lightweight arm. The rotary actuator is set in motion by a brushless servo-motor with Harmonic Drive transmission, and it already incorporates the complete power and control electronics. It is capable of positioning moves with ramp control and features monitoring of the end positions, voltage, current and temperature. Thanks to the use of lightweight, high-strength materials, the compact rotary actuators achieve an intrinsic-weight/load-weight ratio exceeding 2:1. The power supply, control elements and universal communication interfaces are already integrated.
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Sensors in the fingers of the SCHUNK Dextrous Hand measure forces and torques, permitting a secure but also sensitive grip.
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An exceedingly intricate component is the SAH anthropomorphic hand, which SCHUNK has developed in cooperation with DLR, the German Aerospace Center, and the Harbin Institute of Technology HIT. Its dexterity is similar to the human model, but it is also distinguished from existing solutions by its esthetically pleasing appearance, which bears close resemblance to the human hand. Each of the four fingers has four joints and is equipped with sensors to determine the force and position values for each joint. Besides a good grip, the SAH also has the sensitive touch that is often needed to enable it to open bottles as well as to grip a raw egg. Its smaller brother, the SCHUNK Dextrous Hand SDH, also realizes numerous manipulation tasks with its three fingers and seven programmable degrees of freedom. In addition to these are the numerous SCHUNK gripper, rotary and linear modules that are suitable for use in service robots.
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Practical applications
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Research and Development are working exhaustively on numerous projects relating to service robotics. Some of the projects have already resulted in applications tested in practice, while others are still in the research and trial phase. A small selection of these is given below. One thing is certain, however: in a few years the service robot will be as commonplace as the PC is today.
Life Science
In pharmaceutical, biological and chemical laboratories, service robots can perform routine tasks safely and reliably. The advantage here is that the robots can operate around the clock and can rule out errors caused by human contamination, particularly in hygienically sensitive areas. Robots reduce the chance of human error when handling infusion solutions, blood or sterile material for medical use.
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Care for the disabled
In future, service robots will considerably increase the degree of independence of the disabled. Research is working on solutions that will make life in the home and in daily life significantly easier for people with disabilities. Solutions are also being developed to replace conventional prostheses with much more sensitive modules. Thanks to advances in recent brain research, initial approaches are even going so far as trying to control artificial limbs just by the power of thought and the associated brain activity.
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Intralogistics
In the everyday world of business, service robotics solutions are already being tested for automatically and flexibly keeping the supplies flowing in production.
Entertainment
Service robots are currently being built for entertainment purposes in Asia, in particular. The “fun machines” are used in amusement parks, but also in the private sphere when built affordably.
Transport
A very broad definition of the term service robotics also includes solutions that are used to steer vehicles using automation. This also includes solutions for the commercial sector, such as automated forklift trucks or container vehicles, as well as solutions for cars to take them to their destination without a driver.
Home
Service robots for the home are already being mass produced and sold. They perform simple, predefined tasks, such as vacuuming, or cleaning the swimming pool.
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The arm and gripper hand of the bomb and mine robot are constructed from mechatronic modules made by SCHUNK.
Picture: Diehl BGT Defence GmbH & Co. KG
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Bomb and mine disposal
The use of service robots has proved invaluable in high-risk situations. The robots in this field help to recognize and eliminate hazards without endangering human life. Visual systems and detectors assist in the examination of critical objects or areas covered in mines. Modular arms and grippers equipped with sensors can then defuse the objects.
Monitoring
Service robots are used here to increase security around the clock and to be able to respond immediately to unusual incidents. Initial trials are being carried out in the monitoring of buildings and in the monitoring of entire stretches of land, e.g. forests threatened by forest fires.
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12.2007
Balance quality
Round is better
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11.2007
Patented and very impressive: the SCHUNK multi-tooth guide
Distribution of the load on many shoulders – that is the principle of multi-tooth guidance, developed and patented by SCHUNK
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10.2007
Micro-handling
Handling in miniature -
a gripper that fits in a matchbox
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09.2007
Run-out Accuracy of Toolholders
Micron’s best friend – with precision for precision
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08.2007
Service Robotics
A Sensitive Touch for Sensitive Tasks – Robots in Service Gain Independence
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07.2007
Tool Clamping
A tiny difference can have a big impact
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06.2007
Hygienic Design
High-tech creations for culinary delights
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05.2007
Reduction of set-up costs with the quick-change pallet systems
Savings potential of up to 90 percent
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04.2007
Minimum quantity lubrication - MQS
- For minimum costs and maximum protection of the environment
A possible solution in searching for the optimum lubrication system
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In Focus - 2013
In Focus - Archivo 2012
In Focus - Archivo 2011
In Focus - Archivo 2010
In Focus - Archivo 2009
In Focus - Archivo 2008
In Focus - Archivo 2007
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