General Motors is now celebrating the launch of the first robot in space along with the 50th anniversary of the installation of the first industrial robot at a GM plant.
GM’s Principal Robotics Engineer, Marty Linn along with Ron Diftler from the Robotics Systems Technology Branch of NASA have introduced the Robonaut 2 or R2, which is a humanoid robot during the keynote address in the ProMat 2011. Linn states that this robot is a perfect example of converting science fiction into science reality. The Robonaut program had been launched in 1998 at NASA and GM entered the picture in 2006. This partnership has culminated into the development of 42 patents and the $2.5 million humanoid robot with a highly dexterous hardware.
Diftler showed a video where R2 curls a 20 pound dumbbell, attempts cursive writing and shakes hands. R2 can sense when a person wants to shake hands as it is one of the nonverbal cues, which has been coded in it. Its advanced pressure sensors enhance safety and a nudge from the human operator helps in easily stopping the arm movements of R2. Linn publicized the applications of the technology in manufacturing and products quoting the totally new safety and control systems in R2. According to Diftler, R2 would soon find its place in real world operations and its specialty was space walking, which was very difficult for human elements. Linn made it clear that these robots would never replace humans and they would only complement the human workers.
In the other keynote speech, Tom Ridge who is the former Secretary of Homeland Security welcomed the participants of the ProMat 2011. The ProMat was held from March 21-24 at Chicago’s McCormick Place showcasing the newest distribution, manufacturing and supply chain solutions in the logistics and material handling industry.
Source: http://www.promatshow.com/