Haptics Bring Human Precision to Robots
New haptic tech from POSTECH lets workers feel what robots feel, making dangerous jobs safer by letting robots serve as our hands and feet.
On an assembly line, industrial robots might be deployed because they can work continuously, rapidly, and with consistent accuracy. There are also other applications where robots are actually not the best tool for the job, yet we want to make use of them anyway. In these cases, their lack of skill is made up for by the safety that they offer to the people that would otherwise be doing the work.
Automation can be a controversial topic, but few people would argue with the idea of robots taking over work that involves getting cozy with the blast furnace in a steel mill, for example. Yet many of these jobs are just too challenging for today’s robots to handle on their own, leaving people to take care of these dangerous activities. Change may be on the way, however, thanks to some recent work done by a team at the Pohang University of Science and Technology in Korea.
The team has developed two haptic devices designed to make remote robot operation both safer and more effective. The devices, called POstick-KF and POstick-VF, allow operators to feel exactly what a robot is experiencing. The POstick-KF offers detailed kinesthetic feedback by transmitting forces felt by the robot during pushing or pulling tasks directly to the user. The POstick-VF, meanwhile, combines visual and tactile cues to improve control over a wider workspace. Both tools are shaped like real-world instruments, making them intuitive even for beginners.
In tests, these devices significantly reduced operator errors and improved precision during robot manipulation tasks compared to conventional systems. Notably, the POstick-VF showed clear improvements in user skill over time, making it particularly useful for training.
The system leverages digital twin technology to simulate tasks in virtual environments before they are ever performed in reality, which allows users to perfect their technique in advance. When they are ready to go, the systems can be combined with augmented reality, which allows users to interact more immersively and effectively with robotic systems in dangerous environments.
With the POstick interfaces currently undergoing field testing, the researchers are optimistic about the future of industrial robotics. If successful, this approach could represent a turning point in making hazardous industrial jobs safer.