This paper presents a physical interface for collaborative mobile manipulators in industrial manufacturing and logistics applications. The proposed work builds on our earlier MOCA-MAN interface, through which an operator could be physically coupled to a mobile manipulator to be assisted in performing daily activities. The previous interface was based on a magnetic clamp attached to one arm of the user for the coupling stage, and a bracelet based on EMG sensors on the other arm for human-robot communication via gestures. The new interface instead presents the following additions: i) An industrial-like design that allows the worker to couple/decouple easily and to operate mobile manipulators locally; ii) A simplistic communication channel via a simple buttons board that allows controlling the robot with one hand only; iii) The interface offers enhanced loco-manipulation capabilities that do not compromise the worker mobility. In addition, an experimental evaluation with six human subjects is carried out to analyze the enhanced locomotion and flexibility of the proposed interface in terms of mobility constraint, usability, and physical load reduction.

Enhancing Flexibility and Adaptability in Conjoined Human-Robot Industrial Tasks with a Minimalist Physical Interface / Gandarias, Juan M.; Balatti, Pietro; Lamon, Edoardo; Lorenzini, Marta; Ajoudani, Arash. - (2022), pp. 8061-8067. (Intervento presentato al convegno 39th IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, ICRA 2022 tenutosi a Philadelphia nel 23 May-27 May 2022) [10.1109/ICRA46639.2022.9812225].

Enhancing Flexibility and Adaptability in Conjoined Human-Robot Industrial Tasks with a Minimalist Physical Interface

Lamon, Edoardo;
2022-01-01

Abstract

This paper presents a physical interface for collaborative mobile manipulators in industrial manufacturing and logistics applications. The proposed work builds on our earlier MOCA-MAN interface, through which an operator could be physically coupled to a mobile manipulator to be assisted in performing daily activities. The previous interface was based on a magnetic clamp attached to one arm of the user for the coupling stage, and a bracelet based on EMG sensors on the other arm for human-robot communication via gestures. The new interface instead presents the following additions: i) An industrial-like design that allows the worker to couple/decouple easily and to operate mobile manipulators locally; ii) A simplistic communication channel via a simple buttons board that allows controlling the robot with one hand only; iii) The interface offers enhanced loco-manipulation capabilities that do not compromise the worker mobility. In addition, an experimental evaluation with six human subjects is carried out to analyze the enhanced locomotion and flexibility of the proposed interface in terms of mobility constraint, usability, and physical load reduction.
2022
2022 International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA)
Piscataway, NJ
IEEE
9781728196817
Gandarias, Juan M.; Balatti, Pietro; Lamon, Edoardo; Lorenzini, Marta; Ajoudani, Arash
Enhancing Flexibility and Adaptability in Conjoined Human-Robot Industrial Tasks with a Minimalist Physical Interface / Gandarias, Juan M.; Balatti, Pietro; Lamon, Edoardo; Lorenzini, Marta; Ajoudani, Arash. - (2022), pp. 8061-8067. (Intervento presentato al convegno 39th IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, ICRA 2022 tenutosi a Philadelphia nel 23 May-27 May 2022) [10.1109/ICRA46639.2022.9812225].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11572/390959
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