No more days until we will have in our homes humanoid robots to assist us in daily tasks. The robot is an advanced humanoid robot designed in labs from the University of Zurich’s Artificial Intelligence Lab and built around the idea to create a human like advanced robot used in homes to assist humans at different tasks. The director of the program where robot came to life is Prof Dr. Rolf Pfeifer and together with his engineers and researchers team creates one of the most advanced intelligent machinery.
The aim of this project is to build a service robot used in research or to build other robots used at home for different situations like support elderly people or to work in a kitchen. At the base, this idea is similar with Japanese initiative to develop robotic platforms used for the needs of older people.
One of interesting feature is the tendon-driven locomotion system, which is used for robotic member movements. This technology was inspired by human tendons and is based on tendon-controlled motor technology which provide limb movements similar to humans. These artificial tendons are very flexible and uses strong fibrous collagen tissue which are connected with muscles.
Like the human body, this artificial muscle system is also connected to robot components which replace human bones and is stimulated by tendons to create the movements. Inspired by nature, these artificial systems used to create body movement are one of the best system to create movement and is very close to the human system of movements.
Back to robot specifications, it comes with a tall of 120 cm and can move its head and arms.
Roboy has a great potential in robotic research and for this was designed. In March the robot will be exposed in a Tour Event in Zurich along with a full documentation about how it works and how was developed. The next phase of development is to create a friendly face and a soft artificial skin to cover all components. In this case, the robot will be sensitive to touch and will be more attractive than now when all components are visible.