New Two-Finger Robotic Hand Revolutionizes Everyday Manipulation Tasks
Credit: arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2408.04142
In the quest for robots that can assist humans in daily activities, effective and dexterous manipulation of various objects is essential. The development of cost-effective robotic grippers is pivotal in enhancing the ability of robots to perform intricate object manipulation tasks.
A team of researchers from Improbable AI Lab and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has introduced a cutting-edge two-finger robotic gripper. This innovative system is designed to efficiently manage everyday manipulation tasks, with details presented in a paper on the preprint server arXiv and set to be featured in the proceedings of IEEE ICRA 2024.
The newly designed robotic system is capable of picking up a range of objects with varying shapes and textures and placing them accurately in designated locations. According to the researchers, Rubén Castro Ornelas and Tomás Cantú, the development focuses on creating a robust robotic finger capable of performing 30 distinct everyday tasks. Their design utilizes series-elastic actuation, resulting in what they term the "everyday finger," which is compact yet powerful enough to meet their performance objectives.
The specialized two-fingered gripper mimics the size and shape of human fingers, enabling it to bend and securely grip objects. While initially designed with two degrees of freedom (DoF), the researchers aim to explore the integration of more fingers in future prototypes.
"Our current design boasts 2 DoF," stated the researchers. "Incorporating a third DoF would increase the palm’s size, making it challenging to fit five fingers. Nevertheless, we believe that a three- or possibly four-fingered hand could be feasible, though achieving a full five-fingered hand may require advancements in actuators."
Performance assessments of the two-finger gripper included real-world testing, which measured its speed, compliance, and the amount of force applied during various "pick-and-place" tasks. The experiments demonstrated the gripper’s capabilities in handling tasks such as placing dishes in a rack, picking up thin objects like paper, and delicately handling items like strawberries.
The results were notably promising, as the robotic gripper successfully executed all tested tasks. Although these tasks are basic, they reflect the kind of activities commonly performed by humans in their daily lives.
The encouraging outcomes of these initial tests showcase the gripper’s potential for contributing to the development of basic household robots. Future work may involve refining the gripper’s design and evaluating its performance in an even wider array of daily tasks.
For further insight, refer to the paper: Rubén Castro Ornelas et al, "Everyday Finger: A Robotic Finger that Meets the Needs of Everyday Interactive Manipulation," available on arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2408.04142.
© 2024 Science X Network
For more on this breakthrough, visit Science X Network.
