Creating robots that grasp and walk like humans

摘要

Two innovative research projects are seeking to create robotic devices that have the kind of hands and feet needed to perform complex tasks, some performed by humans and others within their bodies in microscopic form. A team from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and Department of Mechanical Engineering has developed a pair of soft robotic grippers with tactile sensors to help devices handle freely moving cables, work that is challenging for humans and has been all but impossible for machines. The application could result in robots able to tie knots or perform surgery suturing. The team's two-fingered gripper includes opposable fingers that are quick and lightweight, allowing for nimble adjustments of feree and position. Built into the fingertips are sensors made of soft rubber with embedded cameras that can estimate the position of a cable between the fingers and measure frictional forces as it slides along. "Manipulating soft objects is so common in our daily lives, like cable manipulation, cloth folding, and string knotting," said Yu She, MIT postdoc and lead author of a paper about the system. "In many cases, we would like to have robots help humans do this kind of work, especially when the tasks are repetitive, dull, or unsafe."