Why legged robots? Example ANYmal gives the answer to this question

Date:

2018-11-29 17:00:17

Views:

3992

Rating:

1Like 0Dislike

Share:

Why legged robots? Example ANYmal gives the answer to this question Source:

We often write about the four-legged robots. We inform you what are the new features and opportunities they have received and how close to their real world counterparts. But one question always remained unsolved until the end: in fact, why all these machines? In addition to the potential to connect these robots to rubble as a result of various accidents and disasters, and military use, how and where you can apply a similar four-legged machine? Recently Boston Dynamics , one of the robots SpotMini conducts inspection on the construction site. But it's not exactly the kind of situation that could demonstrate the superiority of machine over man.

In September this year, the company ANYbotics brought one of their four-legged robots ANYmal very remote from the sea shore the power plant in the North sea. Work here is pretty boring. The basic functions are automated. But on the platform must always be 1-2 people for regular health checks of all systems and monitoring of the various detectors and sensors. As you know, not many agree to such a position.

"the most Important aspect for any power supply company is safe and constant operation of all systems, especially when it comes to energy production coastal power plants. Autonomous robots can offer the same level of support when performing regular and required checks of the equipment and the rest of the infrastructure in such enterprises. In the framework of the world's first pilot project, the transmission system operator TenneT electricity decided to experience one of the world's largest Converter platforms located in North sea, four-legged robot ANYmal".

After Reviewing the video below, you will understand why these four-legged robots like ANYmal almost ideal for this purpose. The car has to move across a smooth surface, occasionally lifting up and down the stairs and squeezing through narrow places. In contrast to bipedal humanoid robots, which even when performing such simple tasks could be difficult, the design of quadruped robots allows you to handle them effortlessly. Of course, it would be possible to use in this case, and robots on tracks, but it would be less effective where a tracked machine would have to go around obstacles, four-legged robot can simply be crossed.

Despite the fact that the speed and efficiency of ANYmal is at the proper level to perform such tasks, even these machines have their drawbacks. At the same demonstration videos to highlight some of them. For example, in some cases, a cruel joke played short legs iron four-legged friend – this hinders his visibility for the observation of highly deployed sensors with cameras positioned on its hull. In addition, the machine is not able to open the doors of electrical switchboards, so the staff needed to keep these facilities open. But it's the little things that can be easily solved by making the environment in which it will run the car more friendly to her.

A More obvious lack of the same ANYmal is different. Although the machine can easily cope with the daily, monotonous monitoring and even be able to tell you if something goes wrong, it is not able to produce repair of the failed equipment. That is, even when using such robots at enterprises will always need people to perform more complex technical tasks. The robot can not replace human, but is able to make him boring, daily, monotonous work.

For comments about the project ANYmal and his trials at sea the platform of the journalists of the scientific publication IEEE Spectrum turned to Peter Fankhauser, co-founder and commercial Director of the company ANYbotics behind this machine.

What special features should have ANYmal to work in this environment?

"using a mobile robot in real industrial conditions requires solving a number of complex tasks. The most important aspect is the presence of the latter the full autonomy and universal mobility, allowing you to work in a large, complex environment using various control and test equipment. In General, the design of the robot ANYmal well adapted for work in conditions and environments, which were created under people. In other words, he can easily move on to all surfaces, use stairs and to move through a narrow space. Computer vision and LiDAR sensors allow ANYmal to navigate in space and to plan a safe passage through encounters on his way. Among control and test equipment the machine uses an ordinary optical camera capable of zoom, thermal camera and microphones. All this allows collecting detailed data for further analysis by the machine operator".

was there any difficulties when you deploy a ANYmal on the platform?

"Thanks to the support operator TenneT (the owner of the platform) we were able to prepare well for the deployment ANYmal and to ensure that we do not expect any surprises. We have in detail studied the schedule of tasks that the robot hadwork, and conducted simulation with virtual plans platform. Increasingly, our efforts were focused to meet high safety standards to operate in the remote marine power plant. This included a week-long safety training; training of evacuation by helicopter, analysis of recovery scenarios with the surface of the water, as well as equipping our field teams with all the necessary protective equipment. And, of course, we made sure that I took all necessary spare parts for machines that may be needed in case of unexpected breakdowns. After all the nearest parts store we were separated by about 100 kilometers."

To what extent, realistically, ANYmal can replace a man?

"We are still far from the possibility of simulating the human ability to adequately analyze the problem and use different objects and tools into its decision. So instead of a goal of creating a replacement for a real working, we are moving to create an automated tool assistance. Through such mechanisms it will be possible to increase the level of safety and efficiency at the plants."

When ANYmal be ready for continuous Autonomous operation? What you are doing to achieve this?

"We are increasing the complexity and duration of tasks for each project. The next steps in the development include the possibility of monitoring at long distances, and testing of charging stations for such robots. Fully finished commercial product will be available in the near future."

In the decision of what tasks and in what areas, in your opinion, will apply to Autonomous robots, such ANYmal?

"At the moment we are working on several projects in the energy and manufacturing industry and construction, agriculture and other more specialized or General projects. In all these areas, mobile robots can provide significant assistance and support. Working with ANYmal, we understand that people may have their own ideas of the use of such machines, which we never knew and develop them. In the future, the range of commercial opportunities will grow along with the capabilities of the robots".

To Discuss the article .

Recommended

The moral code of the robot: whether it is possible?

The moral code of the robot: whether it is possible?

anxious and when not everything works as it should, but something altogether radically changing, often remain only personal moral code, which, like a compass pointing the way. But what gives rise to moral values for a person? Society, loved ones warm...

How to construct the most sophisticated robot on Earth?

How to construct the most sophisticated robot on Earth?

now When it comes to robots, it seems no one imagines footage from "Terminator". learned to use robots for the good of society, and now under that definition, hiding not only humanoid machines, but also those who are simply able to automate one proce...

The process of robotics worldwide is already running

The process of robotics worldwide is already running

recently Elon Musk revealed the secret of Millennium of the camera above the rear view mirror of the car Tesla Model 3. Although the main purpose of any camera is to shoot what is happening around, found out some details. So, the camera will follow t...

Comments (0)

This article has no comment, be the first!

Add comment

Related News

Japanese engineers have taught a robot to work in tandem with a man

Japanese engineers have taught a robot to work in tandem with a man

Modern robotics is already pretty well developed. Just look at least on recent progress Boston Dynamics or to remember a factory where robots are creating other robots. However, as a rule, some robotic mechanisms only work well wi...

New universal robot for agriculture will replace most of the farmers tools

New universal robot for agriculture will replace most of the farmers tools

modern agriculture uses a lot of auxiliary machines and tools for production improvement. And all of this technology not only needs care, place for maintenance and fuel, but also often in possession of special skills for its opera...

Held in the UK, the world's first military exercises with the participation of the people and fighting robots

Held in the UK, the world's first military exercises with the participation of the people and fighting robots

the Development of robotics sooner or later had to lead to the fact that the army will adopt some models of combat robots. And in this case it is not on the application which has already become a kind of "standard" of drones. Brit...

The first artificial anchorman debuted in China

The first artificial anchorman debuted in China

In Hangzhou, in Zhejiang province in Eastern China, where he currently runs the fifth World Internet Conference, showed the world's first news involving artificial intelligence in the image of the presenter. Broadcaster, based on ...

#Video | Pizza Hut and Toyota unveiled a robot that will cook the pizza during the delivery

#Video | Pizza Hut and Toyota unveiled a robot that will cook the pizza during the delivery

Robots doing a variety of "human" Affairs (including cooking) is no surprise. But large global pizza chain Pizza Hut and the famous automaker Toyota still want to try to do it. And along the way, and to change the approach to the ...

The Chinese plant will allow robots to create their own kind

The Chinese plant will allow robots to create their own kind

factories for the production of robots is in many countries. About intention to run in 2017, said even members of the Russian Foundation for advanced research. Anyway, leader in the production of robotics remains China. Local comp...

The American College the robot began to teach philosophy

The American College the robot began to teach philosophy

In recent years robots are increasingly part of our lives. In all seriousness discussed the issues of giving robots some rights, soon the robot will perform in front of British Parliament, and recently it became known about one mo...

#video | the Company Boston Dynamics have trained your robot

#video | the Company Boston Dynamics have trained your robot "parkour"

Two years ago, the Boston Dynamics company has introduced a new generation of its two-legged humanoid robot Atlas. The updated version was the ability to walk on uneven surfaces, hop on one foot and even own up in the event of a f...

The robot-snake learned how to climb a ladder

The robot-snake learned how to climb a ladder

Humanoid robots like Atlas from Boston Dynamics can jump over obstacles, and a robotic dog SpotMini without problems . Unfortunately, it is beyond the control of a ladder on which to climb using not only legs but also arms. While ...

Passengers on the Tokyo metro will help robots

Passengers on the Tokyo metro will help robots

no doubt, sooner or later robots will take any place in our society. Now going through the development of drones that could help people in the warehouses, in the production of various parts and so on. Successfully tested self-driv...

Video: two-legged robot Builder HRP-5P self-secures Board to the wall

Video: two-legged robot Builder HRP-5P self-secures Board to the wall

In January 2018, the German centre of aviation and Astronautics . As planned by the engineers, in the future he and others like him, the droids will have a humanity of great help in the construction of dwellings on the surface of ...

MIT has created a moving human body robot diagnostician

MIT has created a moving human body robot diagnostician

Different kind of robotics finds application in various spheres of our life. Usually, hearing the word "robot", most of us imagine something large, metallic, moving on legs or treads. There are, however, robots are much smaller. F...

People with disabilities will be able to control robotic waiters

People with disabilities will be able to control robotic waiters

For people with disabilities, modern technology offers a variety of solutions that allow you not only to live a full life, but also to deal with different things. But I think beyond all this went Japanese developers, which at the ...

Video: robot ANYmal performs tasks not worse than SpotMini

Video: robot ANYmal performs tasks not worse than SpotMini

developed by Boston Dynamics Spot robot Mini, and who knows , there is a serious competitor. His name ANYmal — it was created by a team of engineers Anybotics, which is part of the company's Robotic Systems Lab of ETH Zurich. In m...

What do we get if we make machines

What do we get if we make machines "more human"?

the Border between the real world and the digital world continue to break down, and their importance in our personal and professional lives continues to grow. Some describe the fusion of virtual and real worlds as part of the four...

"Robocode" will turn into a robot anything

the Development of robots – it is extremely difficult and requires considerable resource consumption. But it is possible that very soon create machines can be used virtually everywhere, whatever the project OmniSkin – "robocode" t...

Robot jellyfish will explore the depths of the sea

Robot jellyfish will explore the depths of the sea

Very often the scientists for their research "spy" something from nature. For example, recently a team of American scientists from Florida Atlantic University together with their colleagues from the office of naval research have d...

DLR happy with the race in artificial intelligence drones. It would seem, and then Lockheed Martin?

DLR happy with the race in artificial intelligence drones. It would seem, and then Lockheed Martin?

Racing drones have become popular not so long ago, but the artificial intelligence was determined to get around people and in this kind of activity. Today Drone Racing League (DRL), one of the foremost organizations, which wants t...

Engineers have learned to control the robot Centauro with gestures

Engineers have learned to control the robot Centauro with gestures

the Creators of robots or shift their management to artificial intelligence, or manage yourself with the help of controllers. Researchers from the Italian Institute of technology and the University of Bonn took a different path an...

In Singapore develop robots for 3D printing of buildings

In Singapore develop robots for 3D printing of buildings

With the help of 3D printing technology can create almost anything. But all, even the best of printers, there is a very significant drawback: they must be set in a specific place where after printing, the materials still need to d...