Fraunhofer IFF and Shadow Robot Are Testing Tactile Robotic Hands for Assembly Tasks
The research project will run for six months. According to Fraunhofer IFF, even in highly automated production lines, 10 to 20 percent of tasks are still performed manually due to technical limitations.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operations and Automation (IFF) and Shadow Robot are conducting a six-month research project to investigate whether dexterous robotic hands can take over tasks in production that have previously been performed manually. The focus is on complex assembly and handling processes that require components to be grasped and moved with precision.
According to the Fraunhofer IFF, even in highly automated production lines, 10 to 20 percent of the work is still done manually due to a lack of suitable technologies. The project partners therefore aim to combine robotic hands with tactile sensors, teleoperation, and modern robot control systems.
Shadow Robot is providing a ready-to-use solution for the remote control of a five-fingered robotic hand equipped with tactile sensors. Fraunhofer IFF contributes expertise in cognitive robotics, real-time control, and industrial automation. The project will focus in particular on investigating the additional benefits that information about touch and physical interaction offers for complex assembly tasks.
Unlike the humanoid robots currently the subject of much discussion, the project focuses on robotic hands that are attached to conventional collaborative industrial robot arms. The researchers also aim to determine what level of dexterity individual applications actually require and whether a five-fingered hand is always the best solution.
In addition to technical feasibility, the project will also examine the challenges and costs associated with these systems. The initial goal is not to develop a finished product, but rather to assess the conditions under which tactile robotic hands could be used for production tasks that have thus far been difficult to automate.
