Artificial Intelligence Emotional Learning underway in Dresden
In the heart of Dresden, Germany, the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (IWS) is leading the charge in the development of robots with a unique ability – the ability to feel. This pioneering work, spearheaded by mechatronics engineer Hannes Lauer, is shaping the future of gripping technology.
The BioGrip project, a key initiative at Fraunhofer IWS, is focused on creating these feeling robots. The technology behind BioGrip mimics the movement of fish fins, enabling the robots to gently grasp objects. Sensors integrated into the grippers respond to touches, pressure, and curvature, ensuring objects are held just tightly enough to avoid damage.
The concept behind these robots is rooted in Bionics, the technological imitation and further development of biological principles. Nature, with its myriad of intricate designs and mechanisms, serves as a valuable source of inspiration for engineers when they encounter challenges in their work.
This is evident in another project at Fraunhofer IWS, Nature4Nature. Inspired by the ability of certain rays and paddlefish, as well as other suspension feeders in the oceans, this project is focused on developing innovative filters to prevent microplastics from being released into natural water cycles.
Various additive printing processes and technologies are used in the development of these grippers. This versatile approach allows for the creation of flexible grippers modeled after nature, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in robotics.
The potential applications of these feeling robots are vast, spanning across various fields such as agriculture, space exploration, and marine biology. In the future, the BioGrip technology could simulate other functions of the human hand, such as estimating the weight of an object.
Fraunhofer IWS is also collaborating with industry and research partners to test prototypes for various applications. As technological advances in additive manufacturing now make it possible to adapt many more biological concepts than before, the future of gripping technology at Fraunhofer IWS is promising and full of potential.
Moreover, researchers at Fraunhofer IWS are also working on laser systems that engrave Lotus effects and other natural tricks for repelling dirt, ice, or friction as fine patterns on surfaces. These advancements further underscore the institute's commitment to harnessing the power of nature to solve complex engineering challenges.
In a world where technology and nature converge, Fraunhofer IWS is at the forefront, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and shaping the future of robotics.
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