Robotic Hand Shows Impressive Agility in Intricate Lab Procedures, Akin to Human Manipulation Skills
AgileX Robotics has revealed a new demonstration of its PiPER robotic arm and Linkerbot Chius dexterous hand, designed for intricate manipulation tasks in laboratory automation. The combined system has shown exceptional adaptability and accuracy in advanced lab automation and intricate manipulation tasks, including delicate, repetitive procedures such as pipetting [1][2][3][4].
The PiPER robotic arm, weighing only 9.26 lbs (4.2 kg), can lift up to 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) and reach about 24.6 inches (626 mm). It is a fast, lightweight robotic arm with six joints, built for smooth and accurate movement. The arm's exceptional precision is evident with an accuracy of ±0.1 mm [5].
The Linkerbot Chius Hand, a series of advanced, dexterous robotic hands designed to mimic human hand capabilities closely, offers an impressive 25 degrees of freedom for highly articulated movement. Its advanced actuation systems deliver smooth, coordinated motion, allowing it to handle lab instruments and small tools with finesse akin to human hands [1][3].
The Linkerbot Chius Hand incorporates wireless master-slave communication and adaptive grasping, allowing it to handle objects of varying shapes, sizes, hardness, and weight. In a demonstration, the Linkerbot Chius Hand and PiPER robotic arm executed bottle decapping and capping with remarkable dexterity, demanding precise force control to avoid damage or spillage [1].
Key performance attributes of the system include dexterous manipulation, precision and stability, versatility, robustness, and ease of use and integration. The Chius hand provides high degrees of freedom and natural fluidity in motion, enabling it to handle lab instruments with finesse. The PiPER arm maintains steady control during rapid movements and in complex workflows, even holding loads up to 1.5 kg with high accuracy [5].
The system smoothly transitions between tasks like spoon handling, pipetting, and vial shaking, adapting to different workflows without loss of precision or damage risk [1]. PiPER's design allows it to operate effectively in challenging environmental conditions, from temperature extremes to electrical interference, supporting consistent lab automation performance [5].
With open source support for ROS1/ROS2 and a Python API, the system is accessible for researchers and developers, facilitating its adoption for varied lab applications [5]. Together, the PiPER arm and Chius hand represent a significant advance towards robotic automation in scientific environments, enhancing efficiency, safety, and consistency while exhibiting motions that closely mimic human dexterity and precision [1][5].
The Linkerbot Chius Hand was developed by Chinese firm Lingxin Qiaoshou, and the demonstration showcases the potential of this advanced robotic system in laboratory settings. The system's ability to perform complex laboratory tasks with remarkable human-like precision and adaptability marks a promising future for robotic automation in scientific research.
References:
[1] AgileX Robotics. (2022). AgileX PiPER Robotic Arm and Linkerbot Chius Dexterous Hand Demonstration. [Video file].
[2] AgileX Robotics. (2022). PiPER Robotic Arm and Linkerbot Chius Dexterous Hand Show Exceptional Adaptability and Accuracy in Advanced Lab Automation. Press Release.
[3] Lingxin Qiaoshou. (2022). Linkerbot Chius Robotic Hand: A Revolutionary Dexterous Hand for Robotics. Product Page.
[4] USC Viterbi. (2022). MOTIF Hand: A Sensor-Equipped Robotic Hand for Intuitive, Human-Like Interactions. Research Project Page.
[5] AgileX Robotics. (2022). PiPER Robotic Arm Product Page.
[6] AgileX Robotics. (2022). Linkerbot Chius Dexterous Hand Product Page.
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