Skip to main content

Robotic precision: how humanoids are revolutionizing industry (video)


In a recent demonstration, Tokyo Robotics showed off its latest humanoid robot, Torobo, which performs a seemingly simple but technically challenging task: hammering a nail into a piece of wood with precision. This demonstration highlights the potential of humanoid robots in industrial applications, especially in tasks that require high precision and dexterity.

Impressive capabilities

The dimensions of Torobo, which are 1660 mm, accurately repeat human proportions. The robot arm can support up to 8 kg in a less than optimal position and 20 kg at maximum effort when the elbow is bent at a right angle. This capability implies significant potential to replace human labor in certain industrial settings.

According to Tokyo Robotics, the robot's actions are much simpler than they seem. The instantaneous force of hammer rebound is absorbed by a combination of rubber elasticity, torque sensor deflections, harmonic gears and impedance control for precise and controlled movements.

Advanced management systems

Torobo's torque control system, equipped with torque sensors in all joints of the arms and waist, ensures safe and precise performance of tasks. This system allows the worker to perform tasks related to assembly, preparation of food and physical interaction with people in a safer and more efficient manner.

The robot configuration includes 7-axis dual arms, 3-axis waist, 3-axis neck, and 4-axis mobile base, allowing it to operate within the human range of motion in residential and work environments.

Research and development

Designed to accelerate research into industrial applications of full-body humanoid robots, Torobo is ideal for studying the automation of tasks that involve active interaction with people, environments and objects. It is also suitable for studying next-generation bimanual robots, machine learning applications in robotics, and force-controlled robot applications.

Torobo uses the Noitom Perception Neuron PRO motion capture system, which is used for motion training, machine learning, and remote control applications. This system prevents singularities, protects against self-interference, and includes torque limiting functions when the robot is physically constrained.

World achievements in robotics

In addition to Torobo, Japanese robotics has achieved notable achievements, such as setting a new world record for completing the Rubik's Cube. The Mitsubishi Electric robot completed the task in 0.305 seconds, significantly faster than the previous record and ten times faster than the fastest human.


Future consequences

The advances in humanoid robotics demonstrated by Torobo point to a future where robots can perform a variety of industrial tasks with high precision and safety. As technology advances, the integration of such robots into industrial and domestic settings is likely to become more common, leading to increased efficiency and new opportunities for automation and human-robot interaction.

Humanoid robots like Torobo are setting new standards in industrial automation, demonstrating the potential to perform tasks accurately and efficiently. As research and development in this field continues, we can expect even more ground-breaking innovations that will redefine the role of robots in our daily lives.

Comments

IN TREND

NASA’s Webb Uncovers Methane on Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: A Cosmic Breakthrough

Imagine looking up at the night sky and realizing that the tiny, distant glimmer you see isn't just a remnant of our own cosmic neighborhood, but a visitor from a completely different solar system. The universe is whispering secrets to us, and for the first time in human history, we have the ears to listen. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has just shattered our understanding of interstellar travelers by detecting methane on the comet 3I/ATLAS. This isn't just a chemical reading; it is a profound connection to the unknown, a bridge built of stardust and science that links our home to the mysterious voids between stars. The Arrival of an Interstellar Messenger For decades, astronomers dreamed of catching a glimpse of an object originating from outside our solar system. In 2017, we met 'Oumuamua, and later, 2I/Borisov. However, the discovery of 3I/ATLAS —often referred to as an interstellar comet—has provided us with a laboratory like no other. When this icy wanderer...

Green Energy Costs to 2035: Prices & Trends

Green Energy Costs to 2035: Why Solar and Wind May Rise While Batteries Fall The global renewable energy revolution is accelerating. Governments, corporations, and households are investing billions in green energy systems. Yet a paradox is emerging: while the cost of generating solar power and wind energy may increase in the coming decade, battery storage prices are projected to decline significantly. Why is this happening? And what will it mean for consumers and investors by 2035? This evergreen analysis explores the economic forces shaping energy markets, provides price forecasts in U.S. dollars, and explains how global trends could redefine the cost of clean electricity. Why Green Energy Became So Affordable Over the past 15 years, renewable technologies have experienced dramatic cost reductions. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) , global weighted-average costs of solar photovoltaic electricity dropped by nearly 90% between 2010 an...

Unearthing the Secrets of Notre-Dame: The Archaeological Discovery of the Century

Imagine standing in the heart of Paris, surrounded by the echoes of modernity—the honking of taxis, the bustle of tourists, and the vibrant hum of a 21st-century metropolis. Now, imagine peeling back the layers of time, descending deep into the cool, silent earth beneath the scarred but resilient frame of Notre-Dame Cathedral. What lies beneath is not merely dirt and stone; it is a time capsule, a bridge across millennia, and quite arguably, the most significant archaeological find in modern French history. When the catastrophic fire of 2019 ravaged the cathedral, the world watched in heartbreak. But from the ashes, a new narrative emerged. As architects and historians prepared to reconstruct the spire, they stumbled upon secrets that had been buried for nearly two millennia. This is the story of the "dig of the century," where ghosts of the past finally meet the light of the present. Who Excavated the Site? The Guardians of History The monumental task of excavating ben...