8 Robots Making Waves
From humanoid teachers to bomb detection vehicles, robots continue to move well past vacuuming. Check out new robots roaming the recent RoboBusiness conference.
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Robots invaded Boston this month, but in a good way.
RoboBusiness 2014, a business development event for the global robotics market, celebrated its 10th year in Beantown, a fitting locale considering how the Boston area has become such a hotbed of robotics innovation. The major companies with headquarters in the area include iRobot, Rethink Robotics, Harvest Automation, Boston Dynamics, and QinetiQ.
The conference spotlighted the latest robotics technology in action, with added context and insights from keynote speakers from MIT, NASA, iRobot, and Boeing.
The Sponsor Showcase room was the place to be on the final day of the conference. The press was allowed to interact with the many companies showcasing products. A stroll through the showroom revealed a colorful array of robotics and a feast for the eyes and imagination, ranging from adorable "social robots" to industrial robot arms to powered exoskeleton devices for paraplegics.
[For more on groundbreaking robots that could show up at your workplace, see Robots Rising: 7 Real-Life Roles.]
Each company proudly presented a shiny new version of its flagship product, happily pitching product details and strategy to this roaming reporter. Though I was hoping to see a driverless car in action, I had no such luck. However, the LiDAR sensor used on QinetiQ's unmanned robot vehicle is the same sensor used for Google's self-driving cars. So there's that.
The sheer diversity kept the showcase compelling. It's impossible to get bored when one booth spotlights a charismatic humanoid that helps autistic kids learn and the next houses an explosive detection vehicle that's seen action in Iraq.
These eight robotics technologies jumped out at me. A few of them even said hello.
Universal Robots calls its UR5 "your robot colleague" for its ability to handle assembly line and materials testing tasks too precise -- or monotonous -- for humans. Some examples: gluing, welding, packaging, and food handling. Yet humans can still work alongside the UR5 by using an included touchscreen tablet for easy setup and programming. If a person's body contacts the UR5, the robot arm will stop to ensure safety.
The UR5 model is a six-axis robot arm weighing 40 pounds with a reach of 33.5 inches. It costs $35,000. A 64-pound model, the UR10, is available for $45,000. In either case, Universal Robots claims the average payback period is 195 days.
The MVN BIOMECH Awinda system from Xsens uses wireless motion trackers and sensor fusion algorithms to collect 3D human motion data (known as kinematics) instantly. Awinda, which has elaborate hardware and software components, is predominantly used to gather and analyze data for sports science, sports coaching, training and simulation scenarios, rehabilitation, ergonomics, and human-robot interaction.
The Zeno R25, RoboKind's advanced social robot, conveys and detects facial expressions (smile, frown, shrug, etc.) for more natural interaction with people. The Zeno R25 also speaks, walks, and shows pictures and symbols on its chest screen. It comes packed with 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of storage, a camera, and eight microphones. When you ask the Zeno R25 a question, it can search multiple websites and hundreds of books to give you answers. RoboKind stresses that, despite the obvious cuteness, this is not a toy -- it's an education and entertainment tool for the elderly and kids, including children with autism.
The Talon robot vehicle is frequently used by military, law enforcement, and first responders to scope out hostile areas. Its main capability is the detection of explosives via sensors that spot toxic chemicals and radiation vapors. It's durable enough to climb stairs and plow through snow. Introduced in 2000, it now has five different models and has seen serious action at Ground Zero in New York and in Iraq, where it survived building explosions.
In addition to detecting bombs, the Talon can drag a 200-pound person and lift and carry a 60-pound object with its arm.
Baxter, the popular long-armed industrial robot with an animated face from Rethink Robotics, thrives at production line tasks but has remained mostly stationary for its two-year life. The Baxter mobility base from DataSpeed Inc. gives Baxter some wheels -- literally. The four-wheeled base allows the robot to move forward, backward, or sideways at 5 mph. It's compact enough that Baxter can maneuver through office hallways and doorways, and it includes ultrasonic ranging sensors for detecting collisions. Mobile Baxter can be controlled using a wireless UWB navigation system. Use cases include retail (inventory scans and shelf stocking), logistics (retrieving warehouse materials), and maintenance (washing windows and vacuuming floors).
TUG, from the Pittsburgh company Aethon, is one of the leading robots for transporting supplies throughout a hospital. It gets its name from pushing carts the way a tugboat pushes a ship. It can make deliveries -- independently via specially wired networks -- of patient meals, prescription drugs, linens, or trash, and it verbally announces the delivery when arriving. TUGs can do jobs that people shouldn't do, such as pushing a 500-pound cart of dirty laundry or transporting hazardous medical waste. When put in place, TUGs have proven to save hospitals hundreds of thousands of dollars a year through increased efficiency.
The NAO humanoid robot (version 5) wins the award for cuteness, but it also plays important roles. It's an education tool for kids, particularly autistic kids, who often respond better to robots than people. It is programmed to help kids with their communication skills by asking them questions, giving them quizzes, and responding. It also has amazingly dexterous movements for teaching kids dance moves and exercises. For developers, NAO is an open platform with APIs and tools available for a growing community to build and test apps for NAO.
But cute, fun, and smart don't come cheap: NAO costs $8,000.
ReWalk Robotics' bionic walking assistance system could be seen as a miracle, as it enables paraplegics to stand up, walk, and even climb stairs. ReWalk was recently given FDA approval for home and public use and is the only system of its type with such approval. The system is powered by a 5-pound backpack battery and is controlled by a wrist-mounted device that enhances movements. Patients also rely on their arms and crutches to spur movement. ReWalk's leg attachments contain mini-engines that weigh 46 pounds.
The ReWalk system costs about $80,000, well out of reach for most. Unfortunately, US health insurers do not cover ReWalk, but the company claims it's working with insurers to help those eligible for ReWalk afford it.
ReWalk Robotics' bionic walking assistance system could be seen as a miracle, as it enables paraplegics to stand up, walk, and even climb stairs. ReWalk was recently given FDA approval for home and public use and is the only system of its type with such approval. The system is powered by a 5-pound backpack battery and is controlled by a wrist-mounted device that enhances movements. Patients also rely on their arms and crutches to spur movement. ReWalk's leg attachments contain mini-engines that weigh 46 pounds.
The ReWalk system costs about $80,000, well out of reach for most. Unfortunately, US health insurers do not cover ReWalk, but the company claims it's working with insurers to help those eligible for ReWalk afford it.
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