This is the one of the most cost effective and affordable solutions for autonomous construction. Mud and straw has been used as a construction material for thousands of years but never like this. Could this be an early iteration of affordable housing that has 0 emissions? Creators Ronald Real and Virginia San Fratello said ‘On the 40th anniversary of the Smithsonian Magazine, they announced the 40 things you need to know about the next 40 years.&nbsp;Number one on that list was: “Sophisticated buildings will be made of mud”. Emerging Objects explores these frontiers of technology and material using traditional materials (clay, water, and wheat straw), to push the boundaries of sustainable and ecological construction in a two phase project that explores traditional clay craft at the scale of architecture and pottery.&nbsp;The end goal of this endeavor is to demonstrate that low-cost and low-labor construction that is accessible, economical and safe is possible. The project began in the contemporary borderlands along the Rio Grande watershed beginning in El Paso and Juarez and ended near the headwaters of the Rio Grande in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, which was the edge of the historic border between the U.S. and Mexico prior to 1848.&nbsp;The entire region has employed traditional pottery and earthen construction traditions for centuries.’

An Adobe Mixture of Dirt and Straw

3D Printed Hyper-sustainable Shelter called the Mud Frontiers Project by Emerging Objects

<h2>Potential for the collaborative workspaces of the future</h2>Invented by the company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/festo.corporation" target="_blank">Festo</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/festo-bionicsoftarm" target="_blank">BionicSoftArm</a> is a modular robotic arm with numerous potential applications. The video begins by showing its previous prototypes starting with the 2010 version of a robotic metal arm with simple grippers followed by the 2017 version of a covered cylindrical arm with more flexibility in its design. In 2019, the company debuted the latest version of the robotic arm with 7 degrees of freedom which allows more elasticity to its movements. This is made possible by a pneumatic bellow segment, and pneumatic rotary drive. Its appearance has segmented bellows with a knitted fabric combined with other installed components in the color of blue and white.The BionicSoftArm interface allows for different types of grippers, the first being the BionicSoftHand that is modeled after the human hand. This mechanism is also a patented invention by Festo. &nbsp;The next gripper is a clamp-like device that can hold and release various types of objects. And the last type of gripper uses an adaptive type of suction to transport objects such as small metal balls to another location. It also demonstrates how the robotic arm can detect and move around obstacles in a smooth transition between locations.&nbsp;As a result, the BionicSoftArm meets two essential requirements for tomorrow’s collaborative workspaces, increasingly eliminating the strict separation between the worker’s manual tasks and the automated actions of the robot. This means that in the future, both humans and machines will be able to work on the same workpiece or component at the same time.To achieve this, it means that on the one hand, automated robot solutions must be able to interact with humans directly and safely – without the two having to be isolated from each other for safety reasons. On the other hand, such open workspaces will primarily demand robots that can be easily customized and independently adapt to different products and scenarios

Whether free and flexible movements or defined sequences, the modular pneumatic lightweight robot can be used for a wide variety of applications in the context of human–robot collaboration depending on the composition and mounted gripper.

Festo BionicSoftArm

<article data-ignore="true">The virtual knife, better known as the CyberKnife® System, is an alternative to conventional radiotherapy. “With this system, we perform radiosurgery – i.e. a treatment that applies radiation with the utmost precision. Thanks to the integration of an image guidance system with robotic technology, we achieve sub-millimeter accuracy,” explains Prof. Dr. Alexander Muacevic, radiosurgeon and neurosurgeon at the CyberKnife Center in Munich.&nbsp;The original ideas behind the device date back to 1987 at Stanford University in the USA. There, the first commercial system was established as early as 2001, already with an integrated KUKA robot.&nbsp;Back then, most robot manufacturers shied away from having their systems used on patients. Not the case with the market leader from Augsburg, which also distinguished itself with strong support for <a href="https://www.accuray.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Accuray</a>, the medical product manufacturer that produces the CyberKnife® System.</article><h1>The number of patients treated with the CyberKnife® System, the robot-assisted system for precision radiation, is growing</h1>The <a href="https://www.cyber-knife.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CyberKnife Center Munich-Grosshadern</a> was opened in 2005 in cooperation with the University Hospital Munich. Today, more than 350 CyberKnife® Systems have been established worldwide. In Munich, the third generation of the virtual knife is already in operation. “We are able to perform high-precision robot- and image-guided irradiation of tumors throughout the body – from the brain to the spinal column and in various organs, such as the lung, liver, kidney or prostate,” emphasizes Prof. Alexander Muacevic.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1597322981589-csm_Cyberknife+Behandlung+11.jpg"><figure data-ignore="true"><figcaption>Since 2005, patients have been treated at the CyberKnife Center in Munich using KUKA technology.</figcaption></figure><article data-ignore="true"> </article><h1>Precise irradiation through cameras and robot-guided treatment table</h1>Apart from the robot integrated into the CyberKnife® System, there are also several digital X-ray cameras and an additional infrared camera which are needed for tracking brain and spinal treatments as well as for radiation treatment of organs. Based on these technologies a breathing model can be built, so the tumor can be irradiated with pinpoint accuracy, minimizing damage to surrounding tissue. Additionally, the integrated RoboCouch system – a robot-guided treatment table, which is also based on KUKA robotics – enables intelligent positioning of the patient to the planned treatment position without manual alignment of the patient. This shortens the duration of the treatment and ensures greater precision of radiosurgery.<section data-ignore="true"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lGZfbX2qyc8?&amp;feature=emb_title&amp;wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 787px; height: 426px;"></iframe> </section><h1>Successful cooperation due to development competence and reliability</h1><article data-ignore="true">Accuray has particularly praised the development team of its partner of many years, which has played a decisive role in establishing new generations. “I always have the impression that the robot in the CyberKnife® System is somewhat underemployed, that for all its precision it could still do more – particularly with regard to speed,” says Prof. Alexander Muacevic, praising the KUKA technology. This opinion is reinforced by the fact that there has never yet been a problem with the CyberKnife® System at the CyberKnife Center in Munich. “Over all the years, it has proven to be extremely stable and not at all vulnerable to technical problems. In the past 15 years, we have not had a single failure. That is really excellent,” affirms the radiosurgeon.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1597322810600-CK_MLC_Patient+Krperbehandlung_Panorama_quer_2015_klein_Seitenverhltnis.jpg"><figure><figcaption>With the robot-assisted system, tumors can be irradiated throughout the whole body.</figcaption></figure><section data-ignore="true"> </section><h1>Fast and precise treatment of tumors and metastases with robots</h1>Before treatment, the doctor contours the tumor based on the image data generated by CT and MRI and tells the medical physicist the dose for irradiating the tumor. Based on this information, the medical physicist then creates a treatment plan that is transferred to the software. The treatment is then automatically started and fully executed. This is where the KUKA robot in the CyberKnife® System comes in. Doctor and technician monitor the treatment – the actual work is carried out autonomously by the CyberKnife® System. “And this with a degree of precision that no surgeon could match. Achieving accuracy of 0.5 millimeters manually is impossible,” adds Prof. Alexander Muacevic.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1597322856016-CK_MLC_Behandlung_Arzt+Patient_Liege+rot_2015_Seitenverhltnis.jpg"><section data-ignore="true"><figure><figcaption>The robot-guided treatment table enablesintelligent positioning of the patients.</figcaption></figure></section><article data-ignore="true"> </article><h1>Less stress for patients due to robots for medical applications</h1><article data-ignore="true">It is this precise targeting of the radiation that is the key benefit of the robot in the CyberKnife® System. It can be used, for example, for treating benign brain tumors, so-called vestibular schwannomas or meningiomas. These would otherwise be removed in a six-hour operation and would be followed by at least a week in hospital and eight weeks of rehabilitation. With the help of CyberKnife® System the duration of the treatment can be reduced tremendously:</article><div data-ignore="true"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1597322917680-Robot-assisted-system-for-precision-radiation-KUKA-AG.png" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></div><h1>Unique possibilities in radiotherapy</h1>There is nothing comparable on the market, because the robot in the CyberKnife® System ensures a degree of flexibility that a normal radiotherapy device is simply unable to achieve. In the CyberKnife Center, the technology adapts to the patient, and not the other way around. The CyberKnife® System offers more than 1,600 different irradiation options with dynamic components. “This is not possible with a normal radio-therapy device, as these are essentially fixed and can only ever rotate about one or two axes,” emphasizes Prof. Muacevic.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1597322950899-csm_Cyberknife+Behandlung+07.jpg"><section data-ignore="true"><figure><figcaption>A unique flexibility distinguishes the CyberKnife® System from other radiotherapy devices.</figcaption></figure></section><h1>Plenty of room for further development of the CyberKnife® System</h1><h1 data-ignore="true">The physicians in Munich are currently testing the system for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia. Furthermore, Prof. Alexander Muacevic also sees potential in the fight against conditions associated with tremor. Since last year, the CyberKnife® System has been used in Munich in the treatment of prostate cancer. “As an alternative to a total operation, we can drastically reduce the treatment time from eight weeks to a single week – and it is scientifically documented that the results are at least comparable if not better,” says Prof. Dr. Alexander Muacevic.</h1></article>

After the introduction of radiotherapy, the use of metallic knives in the field of tumor treatment decreased. Now the knife has been experiencing a revival for several years. Yet, the knife in question is not a physical instrument, but a virtual one.

Virtual knife: Precise treatment of tumors and metastases with robots

After the introduction of digital tools in design and creative disciplines almost three decades ago, there has been an ongoing interest in connecting the physical and the digital worlds. Most of these hybridizations have been directly influenced by the industrial/engineering origins of some of these digital technologies. For instance, using CNC/Robotic arms as tools for fabricating digitally designed artifacts or seeking time/cost-efficient production methods are a few examples.&nbsp;Although there is a tremendous value in this "tool-oriented" perspective, there seems to be a missed opportunity to use these digital/physical platforms, not only as "tools"--for translating one platform to another, but to combine them into a synthesized mixed design/experience "medium"; a mixed medium where it benefits from both digital and physical to curate a new design process, artifact or experience.&nbsp;In one of their latest experimental research projects Mixed Robotic Interface (MRI Γ), researchers at the Robotically Augmented Design (RAD) Lab at the College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) at Kent State University, explored potentials of robotics and augmented reality technologies as possible mediums for hybrid cyberphysical storytelling and atmosphere making. Using the natural power of robotics and AR as platforms that co-exist in both digital and physical environments, MRI Γ explores possibilities of creating/curating a hybridized experience arrangement, to narrate a story with actual and virtual actors and setups.&nbsp;Developed as part of the MRI Γ research investigation led by Ebrahim Poustinchi assistant professor of architecture and the founder/director of the RAD Lab, graduate students Bradly Bowman and Trever Swanson formed a performance setup for storytelling, using a combination of physical images/posters, AR content as the performance set/stage, and an industrial robotic arm as the performer.&nbsp;<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/447412833" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 778px; height: 565px;"></iframe> The story—called “Child Robot!,” is based on a para-fictional scenario speculating on a future child room where the robot arm plays the role of the child, illustrating a futuristic/post-human ambiance. As a cyberphysical storytelling arrangement that simultaneously uses element from the actual and virtual to narrate, precision, and coordination between the digital and the physical is crucial. The setup is a product of a precise calibration of the physical robot arm—KR6 R900 Sixx KUKA robot, the physical and virtual room, and the virtually animated toys in the scene (child-robot room) coordinated in a responsive time-based manner. &nbsp;Using augmented reality procedures in conjunction with the physical setup, “Child Robot!” enables the users to experience a blend of reality, fantasy, actual and virtual through a custom-made software application, curated motion, and a physical scene.&nbsp;Powered using Unity 3D game engine, custom animation based robotic motion-control platform—Oriole, and image tracking techniques, “Child Robot!” facilitates its audience to experience the story—and its hybridized digital/physical content, from multiple points of view and perspectives. Liberating the experience from both completely immersive digital experience—VR experience, and a physical single perspective performance—regular physical experience, MRI blurs the boundaries between the audience, the performer, and the performance setup.&nbsp;To synchronize and coordinate the robot's movement and the digital game events in the AR platform, two sets of data have been used. A physical image-tracker works as an anchor for the digital—AR, content, and establishes a coordinate system for the scene's virtual overlay. This tracker enables the coordination between the robot's static position and the static framing of the digital setup. However, for the robot—from the physical world, to interact with the digital game objects, there is a need for realtime communication. Throughout the experience/performance, the robot continually sends its realtime position/orientation (TCP Plane data) to Unity 3D game engine. This information enables interaction between the game objects—toys, and the robot.To overlay the digital renderings—AR material, over the real/physical footage of the setup without overwriting the robot itself, RAD Lab researchers used greenscreen techniques to separate the robot from its physical context. Later in the process by using a custom-made “Child Robot!” AR application, and employing Chroma Key image processing techniques, the green background has been replaced with a coordinated digital content in realtime.&nbsp;While holding a device—e.g., cellphone, equipped with the custom-made “Child Robot!” AR application, the audience can walk through the MRI Γ setup, physically interact with the robot—the performer, and watch the playful interaction of the physical robot and the digital room.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1597308421054-003.jpg">The medium for experiencing the “Child-Robot! ”is a heterogeneous mixture of reality and its augmentation through the lens of a custom-made cell-phone app. The robot-arm as the performer/narrator of the story remains connected to the world of physicality while the digital window augments its surroundings.Although MRI Γ research—and “Child Robot!” as one of its examples, are at the early stages of experimentation and development, one of the main aims of this research is to move beyond immersion—both complete digital immersion (VR) or physical. It seeks a hybrid medium—a mixed interface, where the physicality of the sound, presence, and breeze of the robot’s motion, combines with the digitality of rendered animated content of AR to narrate one consistent story and create/curate one cohesive cyberphysical experience.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1597308435023-002.jpg">Robot arm interacting with virtual objects through synchronized digital/physical realtime animation.

Using Chroma Key image processing techniques in Unity 3D, the green screen is being replaced by the animated digital scene.

Using AR and robotics as Storytelling Mediums

Mixed Robotic Interface (MRI Gamma)

Since they were first introduced to us half a century ago, robots have continued to revolutionize the way companies do business. As early as the 1960s, industrial robotic arms—large, bulky machines that were typically bolted to factory floors—began to transform manufacturing by automating repetitive tasks at three times the speed of humans. Manufacturers that were not ready or able to implement this “futuristic” technology quickly found themselves falling behind the competition.While modern industrial arms are much more efficient and reliable than their predecessors, they are still primarily stationary fixtures. Highly specialized, they remain in one place, repeating the same task, and can only operate in clean, well-lit, indoor environments.<a href="https://www.resquared.com/products" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Human-like mobile robots</a>, on the other hand, are able to move outside of the factory and into a world designed for and by humans. &nbsp;They are sleeker, smaller and able to operate in unstructured environments with varying lighting and weather conditions. These robots are just as capable as their industrial counterparts, but are optimized for weight, power density, and power consumption. They not only protect workers from dangerous, repetitive tasks, but also can assist with applications that once were unable to benefit from robotic technology, such as the <a href="https://www.resquared.com/industries" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">energy, aviation and medical industries</a>.Today, advances in human-like robotic technology, including advanced machine learning and autonomy algorithms, are giving robots the power to think, react and adapt to changing environments. Moreover, significant advancements in computational power, coupled with falling costs, have made the integration of computer vision algorithms for less-structured or unstructured applications possible. Many leading-edge robotics companies now offer computer vision and autonomy expertise that allows a robot to perceive much as a human would, without the need for significant structural modifications.In this accompanying video, Business Development Manager <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjschneider/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Travis Schneider</a> shares his thoughts on the differences between traditional and human-like robots.To learn more about RE2’s human-like robotic technology, please <a href="https://www.resquared.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">visit our website</a>. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFY_l-x0AqU?&amp;wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe>

RE2 Robotics' mobile robot arms operate in varying environments, including underwater.

Today's robotic arms are sleeker, smaller, and can operate in unstructured environments

Mobile Robots Advance Beyond the Factory Floor

For the past two decades, <a href="https://www.resquared.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RE2 Robotics</a> has remained committed to its mission of creating innovative technologies that that make a positive impact on the world. Founded in 2001 by <a href="https://www.resquared.com/jorgenpedersen" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jorgen Pedersen</a>, RE2 Robotics thrives on researching, designing and developing mobile manipulation systems with human-like performance, intuitive robot interfaces, and advanced autonomy software that enable users to safely and efficiently interact with their environments—whether indoors, outdoors or underwater.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1591743732873-Copy+of+eBookMDMSBlog.jpg">RE2 Robotics' Maritime Dexterous Manipulation SystemFrom concept to creation, we conduct cutting-edge research and develop <a href="https://www.resquared.com/products" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">single and dual robotic manipulator arms</a> onsite in our collaborative facility, which is located in Pittsburgh’s historic Lawrenceville neighborhood. Our team has expertise in all disciplines of robotics—from machine learning and computer vision to electromechanical design. We remain dedicated to solving our customers’ most difficult robotics engineering problems while forming long-lasting relationships that meet their current and future technical challenges.&nbsp;By combining strength, dexterity, and efficiency all in a compact, rugged, lightweight package, our robotic arms provide human-like capabilities far beyond traditional industrial arms and cooperative robots. &nbsp;The goal of our technology is to improve worker safety and efficiency through the use of teleoperation, supervised autonomy, and intelligent mobile robotic systems. Today, we are pushing the boundaries of what is possible through robotics with the development of our autonomy software modules–<a href="https://www.resquared.com/products" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RE2 Detect™ and RE2 Intellect™</a>, which integrate artificial intelligence, computer vision, and machine-learning capabilities within our robotic systems—allowing our proven technology to operate nearly anywhere on the planet.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1591743829000-FukuHDMS.png">RE2's Highly Dexterous Manipulation System (HDMS) with our Imitative ControllerTo learn more about our innovative robotic technologies, please visit our website: <a href="http://www.resquared.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.resquared.com.</a>Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/re2robotics" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/re2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RE2Inc/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/re2.robotics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg-lVHa1UDSsFJIsvy-3pBQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>!

RE2 Robotics' Highly Dexterous Manipulation System

RE2 Robotics develops robotic manipulation systems with human-like performance, intuitive robot interfaces and advanced autonomy software that can operate in both indoor and outdoor environments..

Get to Know RE2 Robotics

Inside the Autonomous Robotic Manipulation (ARM) Lab, massive KUKA robotic arms select and delicately transfer the correct beanbag from a pile of random objects. Photo: Robert Coelius

It’s one thing for a robot to sort through a pile of rigid objects like blocks, but what about softer stuff?

The beanbag test

Flexible endoscopes can snake through narrow passages to treat difficult to reach areas of the body. However, once they arrive at their target, these devices rely on rigid surgical tools to manipulate or remove tissue. These tools offer surgeons reduced dexterity and sensing, limiting the current therapeutic capabilities of the endoscope.Now, researchers from the&nbsp;<a href="http://seas.harvard.edu/" target="_blank">Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences</a> and&nbsp;<a href="http://wyss.harvard.edu/" target="_blank">the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering</a> at Harvard University have developed a hybrid rigid-soft robotic arm for endoscopes with integrated sensing, flexibility, and multiple degrees of freedom. This arm &mdash; built using a manufacturing paradigm based on pop-up fabrication and soft lithography &mdash; lies flat on an endoscope until it arrives at the desired spot, then pops up to assist in surgical proceduresThe research is described in <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/admt.201700135/full" target="_blank">Advanced Materials Technologies</a>.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1569906785018-ArmwithWritingWeb.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Multi-articulated soft pop-up robotic arm. Concept of the system (left): An endoscope navigating in the GI tract and detail of the arm mounted at the tip of the endoscope. Soft pop-up arm (right) performing tissue counter-traction during an ex-vivo test on a porcine stomach (Image courtesy of Harvard University)Soft robots are so promising for surgical applications because they can match the stiffness of the body, meaning they won&rsquo;t accidentally puncture or tear tissue. However, at small scales, soft materials cannot generate enough force to perform surgical tasks.&ldquo;At the millimeter scale, a soft device becomes so soft that it can&rsquo;t damage tissue but it also can&rsquo;t manipulate the tissue in any meaningful way,&rdquo; said Tommaso Ranzani, a postdoctoral fellow at SEAS and the Wyss Institute and coauthor of the paper. &nbsp;&ldquo;That limits the application of soft microsystems for performing therapy. The question is, how can we develop soft robots that are still able to generate the necessary forces without compromising safety.&rdquo;Inspired by biology, the team developed a hybrid model that used a rigid skeleton surrounded by soft materials. The manufacturing method drew on previous work in origami-inspired, pop-up fabrication, developed by Robert Wood, the Charles River Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences.Wood coauthored the paper and is a Core Faculty Member of the Wyss Institute. &nbsp;Previous pop-up manufacturing techniques &mdash; such as those used with the&nbsp;<a href="http://micro.seas.harvard.edu/research.html#flapping" target="_blank">Robobees</a> &mdash; rely on actuation methods that require high voltages or temperatures to operate, something that wouldn&rsquo;t be safe in a surgical tool directly manipulating biological tissues and organs.So, the team integrated soft actuators into the pop-up system.&nbsp;&ldquo;We found that by integrating soft fluidic microactuators into the rigid pop-up structures, we could create soft pop-up mechanisms that increased the performance of the actuators in terms of the force output and the predictability and controllability of the motion,&rdquo; said Sheila Russo, postdoctoral fellow at SEAS and Wyss and lead author of the paper. &ldquo;The idea behind this technology is basically to obtain the best of both worlds by combining soft robotic technologies with origami-inspired rigid structures. Using this fabrication method, we were able to design a device that can lie flat when the endoscope is navigating to the surgical area, and when the surgeon reaches the area they want to operate on, they can deploy a soft system that can safely and effectively interact with tissue.&rdquo;The soft actuators are powered by water. They are connected to the rigid components with an irreversible chemical bond, without the need of any adhesive. The team demonstrated the integration of simple capacitive sensing that can be used to measure forces applied to the tissue and to give the surgeon a sense of where the arm is and how it&rsquo;s moving. The fabrication method allows for bulk manufacturing, which is important for medical devices, and allows for increased levels of complexity for more sensing or actuation. Furthermore, all materials used are biocompatible. &nbsp;The arm is also equipped with a suction cup &mdash; inspired by octopus tentacles &mdash; to safely interact with tissue. The team tested the device ex vivo, simulating a complicated endoscopic procedure on pig tissue. The arm successfully manipulated the tissue safely.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1569906823020-ArmPigWeb.jpg" style="width: 688px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><div class="inline-image">Soft pop-up arm performing tissue counter-traction during an ex-vivo test on a porcine stomach (Image courtesy of Harvard University)</div>&ldquo;The ability to seamlessly integrate gentle yet effective actuation into millimeter-scale deployable mechanisms fits naturally with a host of surgical procedures,&rdquo; said Wood. &ldquo;We are focused on some of the more challenging endoscopic techniques where tool dexterity and sensor feedback are at a premium and can potentially make the difference between success and failure.&rdquo;The researchers demonstrated that the device could be scaled down to 1 millimeter, which would allow it to be used in even tighter endoscopic procedures, such as in lungs or the brain.Next, the researchers hope to test the device&nbsp;in vivo.&ldquo;Our technology paves the way to design and develop smaller, smarter, softer robots for biomedical applications,&rdquo; said Russo.

SEM images of the hybrid soft pop-up actuators. The image has been colored in post processing to differentiate between the soft (in yellow) and the rigid structure (in blue) (Image courtesy of the Wyss Institute at Harvard University)

Bioinspired approach combines pop-up fabrication with soft robotics

Smaller, smarter, softer robotic arm for endoscopic surgery

One key element of the future production landscape is highly flexible Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC). This article describes 3 case studies which illustrate how collaborative robots change the way people will manufacture. KUKA, one of the world&#39;s largest suppliers of industrial robots, has written a free, downloadable white paper called &quot;<a href="http://bit.ly/kuka-whitepaper-US" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shaping future production landscapes</a>.&quot; The white paper describes &#39;megatrends&#39; that impact manufacturing and 3 key factors to designing production infrastructures that can meet the requirements of the future.&nbsp;<hr><h1>Intro</h1><h2>Human-robot collaboration&nbsp;</h2>In human-robot collaboration, the robot assists the human operator. This means: The machine does not replace the human, but complements his capabilities and relieves him of arduous tasks. These can include overhead work, for example, or the lifting of heavy loads. Autonomous, collaborative robots are also used to supply production workstations.In the ideal &#39;factory of the future&#39; there is no separation between automated and manual workstations. Humans and robots collaborate optimally &ndash; without separation and without safety fencing.<h2>Human-robot collaboration: the advantages</h2>HRC-capable robots (often labeled &#39;Collaborative Robots&#39; or &#39;Cobots&#39;) are rendered mobile and capable of performing different tasks flexibly using mobile platforms. They can thus be individually deployed at whatever location and for whatever purpose corresponds to production requirements &ndash; dependent on the required batch size, for example. Furthermore, these types of robots offer maximum flexibility by means of so-called spontaneous automation: They support a user as an assistant in the case of workload peaks and resource bottlenecks in production operations.Human-robot collaboration changes industrial production and manufacturing and can bring a number of advantages over traditional automation or manual labor:<ul><li>Increased flexibility in production</li><li>Relief of employees by performing ergonomically unfavorable work steps that could not previously be automated</li><li>Reduced risk of injuries and infections</li><li>High-quality performance of reproducible processes &ndash; without requiring type-specific or component-relevant investment.</li><li>Increased productivity and improved system complexity thanks to integrated sensors</li></ul> <h1>HRC Case Studies</h1>To give you an idea of the impact of collaborative robots in the workspace we&#39;ve gathered 3 case studies to show you the impact of these robots and the challenges they overcome. <h2>Case Study 1: Lightweight robots supporting operators in adhesive bonding processes.</h2><h2><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1566292124494-KUKA+LBR+iiwa+Duerr.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 766px;"></h2>All images courtesy KUKASystem and machine builder <a href="https://www.durr.com/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">D&uuml;rr</a> uses two sensitive LBR iiwa robots in final assembly. Without a safety fence, they perform key tasks in the application of adhesive beads. This improves quality, saves time and lowers unit costs.<div data-ignore="true">At the company, humans and robots work together in final assembly without the need for physical safeguards. Sensitive lightweight robots are used for the adhesive bonding of GPS antenna covers and tanks in the vehicle body. The solutions improve the quality of the adhesive bonding result, save time and lower unit costs.&nbsp;</div>The LBR iiwa detects any fault that arises when the GPS antenna cover is loadedFor application of adhesive to the GPS antenna cover, the assembly worker places the workpiece into the robot gripper manually. The gripper sucks onto it and moves it to the adhesive nozzle on the application tower. The robot slowly moves the GPS antenna cover upwards to the application nozzle. If it encounters an obstacle, it moves back a little thanks to its collision detection ability and starts the motion over from the beginning. Only after three attempts does it move back into the starting position. Otherwise, the adhesive application process starts and the adhesive bead is applied carefully while the robot executes the path. Finally, back at the starting point, the assembly worker removes the GPS antenna cover and mounts it on the vehicle. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PdAXCNtXabc?&wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 767px; height: 429px;" frameborder="0"></iframe>Precise adhesive beads thanks to the seventh axis of the LBR iiwaFor the automated process of gluing the tank into place in final assembly, the skilled worker guides the tank to a turntable with the aid of a manipulator. There he cleans it, moves it into the correct position and transfers it directly to the robot for further processing. When the starting point is reached on the stationary tank, the nozzle opens under pressure so that no air bubbles are created. The robot then applies the adhesive bead onto the tank very evenly. Sensors on the application head monitor the accurate height of the bead. Thanks to its seventh rotating axis, the robot glues in a radius of 360 degrees &ndash; without re-orienting or having to interrupt the bead. As soon as the robot has completed its task, the skilled worker fits the tank into the vehicle body at the specified position.<a href="http://www.durr.com/" target="_blank">D&uuml;rr</a> has already sold ten systems in the field of adhesive bonding, and is working on HRC solutions for the robot-based adhesive bonding of small washers and other components. <h2>Case Study 2: Human-robot collaboration during the adjustment of headlights.</h2><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1566292345359-Fahrassistenzsystemprfstnden_Drr.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">To reduce the strain on the workers, two KUKA LBR iiwa cobots perform the unergonomic task of adjusting fog lights at Ford. Parallel to this, human colleagues can adjust the main headlights.<article data-ignore="true">The initial situationIn the automotive industry, vehicle fog lights have previously been adjusted manually by human operators. While stooped over, the human operator searches for the hard-to-reach opening for the adjusting screws in the bumper area. Once he has found the adjusting screw, he positions the tool on it extremely carefully without damaging the adjustment opening on the bumper.</article><article data-ignore="true">The solutionTo provide relief for the human worker during this ergonomically unfavorable work and simultaneously achieve improved of the adjustment, Ford VOME (Vehicle Operation Manufacturing Engineering), D&uuml;rr Assembly Products and KUKA have jointly developed an innovative alternative concept for the conventional process as part of a feasibility study. The solution called for the use of the KUKA LBR iiwa cobot. The sensitive robot adjusts the fog lights fully automatically. In doing so, humans and robots work on the same vehicle without additional safety equipment.</article><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9HWY-CLR3Co?&wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 766px; height: 419px;" frameborder="0"></iframe>TeamworkWhile the human operator adjusts the conventional headlights, the cobot adjusts the hard-to-reach fog lights. Two lightweight robots are already in use in four headlight/driver assistance system test stands for the new Ford Focus C519 at the Ford plant in Saarlouis. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The secret of the HRC conceptWith its size and joint torque sensors, the robot detects contact immediately and reduces its level of force and speed instantly. These characteristics make it possible to work with human operators in confined spaces. Furthermore, with its high-performance servo control, the cobot detects contours quickly under force control. In combination with an end effector specially developed by D&uuml;rr (consisting of a camera system and an adjustment screwdriver), the robot positions the adjustment screwdriver according to the hole coordinates acquired by the camera system. The adjusting screw itself is located approximately 80 mm behind the hole in the bumper. Thanks to sensitive movements, the cobot optimally positions the adjustment tool into the screw head.Redundant safety is provided by the HRC-capable, heavy-duty aluminum gantry from D&uuml;rr Assembly Products &ndash; on which the KUKA LBR iiwa is positioned in a ride-on installation above the light collecting box directly in front of the headlight to be adjusted. The advantage here: additional robot positioning can be dispensed with. <h2>Case Study 3: Using a cobot to install pump wells. </h2><h2><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1566292578317-KUKAflexFellow_Platzierung_im_Arbeitsbereich_IMG_3628.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></h2>In the future, BSH Hausger&auml;te GmbH will be using a <a href="https://www.kuka.com/en-us/products/mobility/mobile-robot-systems/kuka-flexfellow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KUKA flexFELLOW</a> to carry out the installation of pump wells on the dishwasher production line.&nbsp;<article data-ignore="true">The initial situationThe <a href="https://www.bsh-group.com/us/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BSH Hausger&auml;te</a> GmbH factory in Dillingen, Germany is Europe&rsquo;s largest and most modern factory for dishwashers. Around 10,000 machines leave the production line every day in two-shift operation. There are a total of seven production lines for manufacturing dishwashers.Screw fastening of the pump covers in the dishwasher is an ergonomically inconvenient task as the employee has to lean into the dishwasher housing to perform the task. The mechanical assistant now takes on this monotonous step in the process.&nbsp;The task &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Its contribution has already been tested successfully over several months as part of a pilot system. In addition to relieving the human operator of a cumbersome task, the robot also contributes by documenting its work and indicating whether the screws have been tightened correctly or not.The solution &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The key challenge when designing the system was to ensure that the manual workstation remained unchanged and that the automation solution could be integrated into the existing assembly line. Its sensitive and responsive capabilities enable it to recognize if, for example, a pump well component is not positioned correctly and then presses it into place.&nbsp;<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jtkJQJXO7AQ?&wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 767px; height: 413px;" frameborder="0"></iframe>The advantages of using a cobot:<ul><li>Reduction of the manual workload in an ergonomically inconvenient task</li><li>Automated documentation of work steps</li><li>Indication of correct screw fastening operation</li></ul>Using its responsive capabilities, the cobot can then calibrate itself independently at its workstation, use a search run mode to find the screw positions, re-apply pressure to the component if it is not correctly positioned and finally tighten the four screws. <hr><h1> </h1><h1>Further Reading</h1><ul><li>Specifications of the <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/wevolver.staff/kuka.lbr.iiwa/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KUKA LBR iiwa</a></li><li>&quot;<a href="http://bit.ly/kuka-future" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://bit.ly/kuka-whitepaper-US" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shaping future production landscapes,</a>&quot; KUKA&#39;s white paper describing the &#39;megatrends&#39; that impact manufacturing and 3 key factors (people, technology and adaptation) to designing production infrastructures that can meet the requirements of the future.</li></ul> </article>

In human-robot collaboration, human and machine work hand in hand. The human operator controls and monitors production, the robots perform the physically strenuous work. Both contribute their specific capabilities.

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