Engineers at EPFL have introduced a revolutionary series of soft robots named “Digits” that can replicate human touch in 16 different ways without requiring complex coding. These modular, air-powered devices have the ability to change shape, vibrate, stiffen, and provide tactile sensations, marking a significant advancement for virtual reality experiences, rehabilitation, and interactions between humans and robots.
The key innovation lies in pneumatic control. The Digits modules are constructed with flexible joints and rigid links, utilizing pressurized air pockets to dynamically alter their shape and texture. They can mimic various levels of firmness, movement, and subtle vibrations essential for recreating authentic human touch. The TangiGlove and TangiBall prototypes showcase the potential applications, with the former offering stiffness and tactile feedback through an exoskeleton glove and the latter transforming into different shapes while delivering physical responses.
These soft robots demonstrate the adaptability to various types of interactions, expanding the possibilities for their use in different scenarios. Human touch involves intricate actions such as pressing, rubbing, and sensing texture and pressure, areas where traditional haptic devices fall short. Digits address this gap by integrating shape transformation, movement, and vibration into a single system. Their modular design allows for endless configurations to suit individual users or therapeutic needs.
Moreover, the platform developed by EPFL is based on Feelix, an open-source robotics framework with a user-friendly interface. By employing machine learning, the system can interpret user intentions and translate them into haptic feedback without the need for intricate programming, streamlining the adoption process for developers working in virtual reality, augmented reality, and rehabilitation fields.
The Reconfigurable Robotics Lab, under the leadership of Jamie Paik, plans to utilize Digits in rehabilitation centers to study hand and muscle recovery over extended periods. Simultaneously, researchers are working on developing more intricate modules with diverse textures, nuanced stiffness, and integration into full-body interfaces to enhance immersive virtual environments. The ultimate goal is to reshape human-machine interactions through robots that can alter shape, stiffness, and tactile responses to accommodate users of all sizes, abilities, and task requirements.
This groundbreaking advancement positions EPFL at the forefront of soft robotics, transforming inanimate machines into interactive counterparts capable of mimicking human touch.
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