By Lee Byung-chul, Yeom Hyun-a
2024년 3월 26일
The robotic finger, a collaborative development by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) and Wonik Robotics./ETRI
The robotic finger, a collaborative development by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) and Wonik Robotics./ETRI
South Korean researchers have developed a robotic finger that can sense the pressure of an object it grips in real time, mimicking the sensitivity of a human finger. This advancement is timely as robots are increasingly employed in manufacturing and service sectors, promising to address safety concerns due to inaccurate sensor feedback.
Kim Hye-jin, a senior researcher at the Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) in the Intelligent Sensor Technology Laboratory, along with her team and collaborators from Wonik Robotics, revealed on Mar. 26 that they have developed a robotic finger. This finger leverages air pressure to detect pressure from any direction precisely.
The robotic finger, a collaborative development by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) and Wonik Robotics, detects changes in pressure as water fills a cup it holds, indicated by the LED's color change./ETRI
This innovation is poised to find applications across various sectors because of its ability to handle objects of differing hardness with ease. Traditional robotic fingers struggle with signal distortion when grasping, leading to insufficient or excessive force. This limitation hampers their ability to perform tasks traditionally done by humans.
The team surpassed previous technological constraints by incorporating pneumatic-based pressure sensors into the three-dimensional robotic fingers, allowing for accurate pressure detection from numerous angles while maintaining the dexterity needed to manipulate objects similarly to a human hand.
To further enhance sensor precision, the team employed AI technology. The robotic fingers can assess the firmness of the objects they hold in real-time, with a color-changing LED indicator to display pressure levels, making it straightforward for users to monitor the finger’s operation. Additionally, these fingers have communication capabilities, allowing them to detect vibration and exchange data wirelessly.
Durability issues prevalent in existing robotic fingers were also addressed. The researchers extended the device’s lifespan by shielding the sensor from direct contact with pressure points, thereby overcoming a common failure point of tactile sensors typically exposed to direct force.
The researchers envision the robotic finger performing intricate tasks in manufacturing and service industries, handling various objects, and improving human-robot interactions. The goal extends to crafting an entire hand that closely replicates human touch, with future developments focusing on the ability to detect temperature, humidity, light, and ultrasound.
Kim said, “We have elevated robot-human interaction and established a foundation for deeper integration of robots into our societal and industrial fabric.”
Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute robotic finger