SBIR Phase I: Whole-body 3D perception for human-safe collaborative robots

这个项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是使新一代的协作机器人有能力和安全。协作机器人将彻底改变制造业，它们将更好地利用工厂空间和机器，降低能源成本，缓解劳动力短缺。安全操作是协作机器人成功运行的关键因素，尤其是当它们是移动机器人时。该项目将证明触觉感应皮肤可以使机器人更安全，更具协作性，并以合理的成本制造。拟议中的任务还将有助于劳动力发展，加强对机器人、软机器人和人工智能等关键领域的科学理解，并为当地学生提供机会。这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将研究一种新型的触觉感应皮肤，以提高机器人的安全性及其与人类用户互动的能力。与之前的工作不同的是，该皮肤可以检测距离最远20厘米的障碍物，并测量接触和力。此外，检测用户手势（如敲击、摩擦或戳戳）的能力，为人机交互开辟了新的途径，并将使研究真正的协作机器人成为可能。拟议的研发项目将克服以下阻碍该技术商业化的关键挑战：从单个贴片扩展到全身传感皮肤，融合从皮肤收集的接近数据与传统3D传感器提供的数据，并在一系列实际用例中展示其优势。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to enable a new generation of collaborative robots that are capable and safe. Collaborative robotics is poised to revolutionize manufacturing where they will enable better utilization of factory space and machines, reduce energy cost, and mitigate labor shortages. Safe operation is a critical factor for successful operation of collaborative robotics, especially if they are mobile. The proposed project will demonstrate that tactile sensing skins can make robots safer, more collaborative, and manufactured at reasonable cost. The proposed task will also contribute to workforce development and enhance scientific understanding in the critical fields of robotics, soft robotics, and artificial intelligence, as well as providing opportunities for local students.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will investigate a novel type of tactile sensing skin to improve robot safety and its ability to interact with human users. Unlike previous work, the proposed skin can detect obstacles from a distance of up to 20cm, as well as measuring contact and force. Also, the ability to detect user gestures such as tapping, rubbing or poking, opens new avenues for human-robot interaction and will enable the study of truly collaborative robots. The proposed research and development project will overcome the following key challenges that stand in the way of commercializing the technology: scaling from single patches to full-body sensing skins, fusing proximity data collected from the skin with those provided by conventional 3D sensors, and demonstrating its benefits in a series of real-world use cases.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.