1 Introduction
Modern robotics technology has made leaps and bounds. Robots have become interactive assistants, no longer merely machines that execute pre-defined programs; they no longer need to be confined behind barriers or light grids, but can move freely without threatening human safety. The Hollywood film "Iron Man" has already shown us this type of robot. In the film, Robert Downey Jr. has such a robotic arm by his side. As his assistant, this robotic arm can hold solder for him as needed, tighten screws on its own, or hand him the tools he needs.
2 robots packaged in artificial leather
The aforementioned scenario will soon become a reality, and this is also the direction that F&PRobotics, a young Swiss company, is striving towards. The company's 20 employees have collaborated to develop a robot whose emergence could fundamentally change the labor relationship between humans and machines. The robot arm has a standard size of 1.1 meters in height, an operating radius of 80 centimeters, and is equipped with six degrees of freedom. This P-Rob (Personal Roboter) features an aluminum structure covered in high-grade artificial leather, providing users with a comfortable experience. "We hope to take personal robotics to a whole new level with P-Rob," says Hansruedi Früh, CEO of F&PRobotics. He already has a clear vision for the robot's applications: laboratories and industrial automation will be suitable venues for this robot to shine. "In these places, the robot can manipulate containers or test tubes, or be used for quality control." Combined with newly developed software, it can also identify, grasp, and manipulate objects, while also sensing its surroundings, allowing it to react appropriately when someone approaches. (See Figure 1.)
Figure 1. The P-Rob 1R (right) equipped with six degrees of freedom and its smaller sibling, the 1U.
3. The robot is able to analyze specific situations and take what it deems the most appropriate response.
According to F&PRobotics, this is just the beginning. In the near future, P-Rob will be able to interact and cooperate with other robotic arms or humans, and will be able to recognize human social behavior, thus becoming an autonomous machine. "Our robot can analyze specific situations and take the most appropriate measures," says Hansruedi Früh. For example, this robot will be able to troubleshoot problems on the production line without shutting down, unlike now, where it shuts down at the first sign of trouble. Hansruedi Früh also envisions his robot being used to do housework, cook food, or perform other tasks within the next five to ten years. "Our idea is to create an intelligent, interactive robotic arm that is both safe and reliable, not to be treated as a machine, but as an assistant or friend," as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. The robot's head can be fitted with various grippers.
4 brushless DC motors ensure precise operation
F&PRobotics uses Maxon's brushless DC drive to power its robotic arm. The P-Rob's joints and grippers incorporate up to eight EC disc motors, each 45mm and 90mm in diameter and 70W and 90W in power. These motors are powerful, compact, and have excellent heat dissipation, making them an optimal solution in robotics. "We believe the flat structure of these motors is their greatest advantage," says Hansruedi Früh. Combined with Maxon sensors, these disc motors also function as excellent force gauges, as torque can be easily measured from the current intensity within the drive unit. Simplicity and ease of operation are paramount concerns for this young Swiss company. The P-Rob requires only a laptop for operation and programming, a feature that has attracted considerable interest from potential customers. The first projects for this new robotic arm have already begun, with others to follow soon. Undoubtedly, the future of industry and home life will be increasingly influenced by human-robot interaction and collaboration. F&PRobotics and Maxonmotor are at the forefront of this trend.
