Descripción del proyecto
Unas pinzas universales inspiradas en la trompa de elefante
Desde las cadenas de montaje autónomas y los robots asistentes personales, hasta los robots de clasificación en la producción alimenticia y las operaciones de búsqueda y salvamento, la tecnología robótica del futuro debe abordar la versatilidad (e, incluso, superar las capacidades humanas) empleando nuevas formas de inteligencia, como las derivadas del diseño concurrente de inspiración biológica, el tacto artificial y el accionamiento fuerte y suave a la vez. El proyecto PROBOSCIS, financiado con fondos europeos, desarrollará un nuevo paradigma para una manipulación robótica táctil extremadamente versátil que plasma la extraordinaria funcionalidad de una trompa de elefante. Diseñará un dispositivo de manipulación continuo, sin una distinción clara entre el brazo y la pinza, que consta de músculos artificiales biomiméticos propioceptivos y una piel artificial que equilibra sensibilidad y fuerza. PROBOSCIS ofrecerá avances tecnológicos con una nueva generación de pinzas universales dotadas de unas capacidades sin precedentes que se basan y se inspiran en la biología y el comportamiento de los elefantes, generando aplicaciones eficaces de uso asistencial, industrial, doméstico, de rescate y medioambiental.
Objetivo
Universal robotic gripping remains a challenge at the frontiers of science. In contrast, elephants perform soft yet strong reaching, grasping, collection, sucking, siphoning, and manipulation of both solid and liquid matter, on a very large range of payloads and sizes – all with their prehensile, tactile-sensitive trunk. In PROBOSCIS we will establish a totally new paradigm for extremely versatile tactile-driven robotic manipulation, embodying the extraordinary functionality of the elephant trunk. This ambitious research programme aims at: morphological and behavioural characterisation of the African bush elephant trunk; bioinspired design of a continuum manipulator with elephant-like dexterity and versatility; multifunctional materials for reliable perceptive soft robotics; bioinspired control for tactile-driven soft manipulation; bioinspired tough tactile skin and 3D sensing strategies. A remarkable sample of an adult elephant trunk will be analysed by scaling up 3D histology techniques. Based on the trunk morphology, we will design a continuum robotic arm consisting of proprioceptive biomimetic artificial muscles and an artificial tactile skin with unique sensitivity-toughness trade off. To this aim, novel materials and additive manufacturing techniques will be developed starting from our proprietary compositions and technologies. We will also have extraordinary access to tamed elephants in Africa, on which we will perform quantitative behavioural studies with sensorized objects and marker-less motion capture. Based on elephants’ behaviours, we will formulate original control strategies for tactile-driven soft grasping and manipulation in robotics. PROBOSCIS will result in technological breakthroughs, such as a new generation of robotic manipulators with unprecedented capabilities, that are deeply rooted in and enabled by new science in elephants’ biology, triggering successful assistive, industrial, domestic, rescue and environmental applications.
Ámbito científico
- social sciencespsychologybehavioural psychology
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringroboticssoft robotics
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringadditive manufacturing
- natural sciencesbiological scienceshistology
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Convocatoria de propuestas
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoriaConvocatoria de subcontratación
H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2019-2020-01
Régimen de financiación
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinador
16163 Genova
Italia