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有能力和安全的协作机器人成为可能。协作机器人技术将给制造业带来革命性的变化，它们将使工厂空间和机器得到更好的利用，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操作的关键因素，特别是当它们是移动的时候。拟议的项目将证明，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。这项拟议的任务还将有助于劳动力发展，增进对机器人、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。这个小型企业创新研究(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和它与人类用户互动的能力。与以前的工作不同，该皮肤可以探测20厘米以外的障碍物，还可以测量接触和力。此外，能够检测用户的手势，如轻敲、摩擦或戳，为人与机器人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阻碍该技术商业化的以下关键挑战：从单一贴片扩展到全身传感皮肤，将从皮肤收集的接近数据与传统3D传感器提供的数据进行融合，并在一系列真实世界的使用案例中展示其好处。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.