Safe, low-cost, modular, self-programming robots

When companies use robots to produce goods, they generally have to position their automatic helpers in safety cages to reduce the risk of injury to people working nearby. A new system could soon free the robots from their cages and thus transform standard practices in the world of automation: Prof. Matthias Althoff has developed a toolbox principle for the simple assembly of safe robots using various components. The modules can be combined in almost any way desired, enabling companies to customize their robots for a wide range of tasks -- or simply replace damaged components. Prof. Althoff's system is presented in a paper in the June 2019 issue of Science Robotics.

Built-in chip enables the robot to program itself

Robots that can be configured individually using a set of components have been seen before. However, each new model required expert programming before going into operation. Prof. Althoff has equipped each module in his IMPROV robot toolbox with a chip that enables every modular robot to program itself on the basis of its own individual toolkit.

Keeping an eye on the people working nearby

"Our modular design will soon make it more cost-effective to build working robots. But the toolbox principle offers an even bigger advantage: With IMPROV, we can develop safe robots that react to and avoid contact with people in their surroundings," says Althoff. With the chip installed in each module and the self-programming functionality, the robot is automatically aware of all data on the forces acting within it as well as its own geometry. That enables the robot to predict its own path of movement.

At the same time, the robot's control center uses input from cameras installed in the room to collect data on the movements of people working nearby. Using this information, a robot programmed with IMPROV can model the potential next moves of all of the nearby workers. As a result, it can stop before coming into contact with a hand, for example -- or with other approaching objects. "With IMPROV we can guarantee that the controls will function correctly. Because the robots are automatically programmed for all possible movements nearby, no human will be able to instruct them to do anything wrong," says Althoff.

IMPROV shortens cycle times

For their toolbox set, the scientists used standard industrial modules for some parts, complemented by the necessary chips and new components from the 3D printer. In a user study, Althoff and his team showed that IMPROV not only makes working robots cheaper and safer -- it also speeds them up: They take 36% less time to complete their tasks than previous solutions that require a permanent safety zone around a robot.