Research into robotic manipulation has been hampered by the high cost of robotic arms, which range in price from $16,000 to $150,000. Despite advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence, the lack of affordable and reliable hardware has limited the progress of these robots in the real world. However, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science have developed a revolutionary solution.
The Low-Cost, Efficient, and Anthropomorphic (LEAP) arm is a low-cost robotic arm that outperforms more expensive alternatives. It costs less than $2,000 and can be assembled in less than four hours using a 3D printer and a screwdriver. The LEAP Hand significantly reduces the cost of dexterous manipulation research and has the potential to change the way robots interact with objects in a variety of environments.
One of the innovative features of the LEAP Hand is its unique kinematic design, which allows it to move in a way that the human hand cannot. Its fingers and thumb can move up and down, left and right and rotate independently, providing maximum dexterity for complex tasks. This design gives the LEAP Hand an advantage over other robotic hands in grasping and manipulating objects.
The researchers have also released open-source software that allows the LEAP Hand to mimic human hand movements during teleoperation trials and train the robot in simulation. It can also learn tasks from internet videos and apply these skills in the real world.
The LEAP Hand has been extensively tested and proven to be stronger, more durable, and better at gripping and manipulating objects than more expensive alternatives. This has generated considerable interest among researchers from universities and technology companies, who are now building their own LEAP arms for their own robotic arm applications and research.
The development of the LEAP Hand marks a major breakthrough in robotic manipulation research, providing an affordable and reliable solution. This paves the way for robots to perform tasks such as lifting objects, folding laundry, opening doors and more in a variety of settings. With reduced costs, researchers can now explore new possibilities and push the boundaries of what robots can do in the real world.
Sources:
– Carnegie Mellon University: Robotics Institute. (nd). Robotics: Science and Systems Conference. Obtained from [avota].
– Carnegie Mellon University: School of Computer Science. (nd). A robot arm is ready to help. Obtained from [avota].
after navigation
2023-10-12 23:01:41
#Affordable #robotic #arms #breaking #barriers #manipulation #research
