Hiroyasu Iwata

Design of human symbiotic robot TWENDY-ONE

In this paper, we propose a sophisticated design of human symbiotic robots that provide physical supports to the elderly such as attendant care with high-power and kitchen supports with dexterity while securing contact safety even if physical contact occurs with them. First of all, we made clear functional requirements for such a new generation robot, amounting to fifteen items to consolidate five significant functions such as “safety”, “friendliness”, “dexterity”, “high-power” and “mobility”. In addition, we set task scenes in daily life where support by robot is useful for old women living alone, in order to deduce specifications for the robot. Based on them, we successfully developed a new generation of human symbiotic robot, TWENDY-ONE that has a head, trunk, dual arms with a compact passive mechanism, anthropomorphic dual hands with mechanical softness in joints and skins and an omni-wheeled vehicle. Evaluation experiments focusing on attendant care and kitchen supports using TWENDY-ONE indicate that this new robot will be extremely useful to enhance quality of life for the elderly in the near future where human and robot co-exist.

Humanoid Robots in Waseda University—Hadaly-2 and WABIAN

This paper describes two humanoid robots developed in the Humanoid Robotics Institute, Waseda University. Hadaly-2 is intended to realize information interaction with humans by integrating environmental recognition with vision, conversation capability (voice recognition, voice synthesis), and gesture behaviors. It also possesses physical interaction functions for direct contact with humans and behaviors that are gentle and safe for humans. WABIAN is a robot with a complete human configuration that is capable of walking on two legs and carrying things as with humans. Furthermore, it has functions for information interactions suite for uses at home.

Human-robot-contact-state identification based on tactile recognition

In this paper, we propose a method for designing an identification system for human-robot contact states based on tactile recognition. The following ideas are incorporated: experimentation for human-robot contact, verbalization of contact states, extraction of characteristic parameters from acquired tactile information, quantification of the recipients tactile recognition incorporating its redundancy (identification confusability among contact states), evaluation of the identification confusability with a new criterion, and identification of contact states based on the received tactile stimulation. The proposed method allows a robot to quantify tactile recognition of a human (recipient) touched by other people (touch initiator), in which the verbal response by the recipient is matched with tactile stimulation acquired during physical contact utilizing a tactile interface. In addition, the method enables a robot that comes into contact with a human to identify contact states nearly similar to that of the recipient, based on the features of the received tactile stimulation. At this point, the reproduction of the identification confusability of the recipients tactile recognition is also accomplished by using a neural network called modified counterpropagation (MCP). Once a tactile stimulation is induced on the robot body, the probability of corresponding contact states is calculated and outputted by the system, based on the degree of similarity of the characteristics between the newly received and previously stored tactile stimulation. Experimental results indicate that the constructed system allows a successful quantification of the recipients contact-state recognition incorporating the identification confusability and the accomplishment of a high level of accuracy in contact-state identification. These results confirm that the proposed method is useful for identifying human-robot contact states based on tactile recognition.

Development of human symbiotic robot: WENDY

An objective of this study is to find out design requirements for developing human symbiotic robots, which share working space with humans, and have the ability of carrying out physical, informational, and psychological interaction. The paper mainly describes design strategies of the human symbiotic robots, through the development of a test model of the robots, WENDY (Waseda ENgineering Designed sYmbiont). In order to develop WENDY, mobility and dexterity of a humanoid robot Hadaly-2, which was developed in 1997, are improved on. The performances of WENDY are evaluated by experiments of object transport and egg breaking, which require high level integration of the whole body system.

Whole-body covering tactile interface for human robot coordination

In this paper, we propose a design method of wholebody tactile interface for elevating human-robot coordination. The proposed surface cover sensor as the tactile interface enables robots to detect accurate 3D force vector applied on various parts of the body during physical interaction with humans. First, after analysis of a variety of contact situations between humans and robots, tactile and force information needed are specified, and the specifications are decided based on knowledge of human engineering. Next, a design method of a cover sensor that can detect accurate force vector and contact position is described. The cover sensor utilizes a force-torque sensor and is surrounded with several touch sensors. The mechanism was implemented on a humanoid robot, WENDY. Finally, evaluation experiments of locus tracking on the surface and force-following to humans were carried out. The experimental results demonstrate the high capabilities of the proposed cover sensor as human-robot interface, and indicate that the proposed design method of whole-body tactile interface is capable of enhancing human-robot coordination.

A physical interference adapting hardware system using MIA arm and humanoid surface covers

In this paper, a comprehensive new concept concerning situations where robots physically contact with human such as tactile contacts and collisions is proposed, which is named physical interference (PIF). In order to realize PIF adaptation with human, it is required for robots to recognize PIF with human as well as secure human safety. First, information of PIF with human for recognizing PIF in detail is specified. Next, a hybrid PIF adapting hardware system composed of a mechanical passive compliant arm and PIF recognizing covers with viscoelastic materials is proposed and was developed. Finally, in order to evaluate the hardware system, experiments of adapting to PIF with human, using an arm equipped with MIA (mechanical impedance adjuster) and the developed surface covers, were carried out. From the results of the evaluation experiments, the validity of the developed hardware system for basic PIF adaptation with human was confirmed.

Design of anthropomorphic dexterous hand with passive joints and sensitive soft skins

Installation of passive elements on the skin (whole-part covered soft skin) and inside joints of the robotic hand becomes a key-technology to remarkably enhance the stability of object handling and manipulation and adaptability to external forces. Based on this idea, in this paper a sophisticated mechanism design of TWENDY-ONE hands with mechanical springs in DIP and MP joints and whole-part covered soft skins is presented. In addition, we present a design method of tactile sensors for highly dexterous robotic hand, whish are necessary for recognition of volume and softness of objects grasped as well as improvement of handling and manipulation more stably. Evaluation experiments focusing on kitchen supports using TWENDY-ONE hands indicate that this new robot has high dexterity due to the hand and will be extremely useful to enhance the quality of life for the elderly in the near future where human and robot co-exist.

Human symbiotic robot design based on division and unification of functional requirements

The study described aims to develop human symbiotic robots, which have the abilities of carrying out physical, informational, and psychological interaction, and support daily work in a humans living space. We mainly discuss two essential design requirements for realizing human-robot symbiosis, such as safety and dexterity. First, through the development of human symbiotic robot WENDY (Waseda ENgineering Designed sYmbiont), a mechanical design method is proposed. Next, the effectiveness of the method is evaluated by several basic experiments, such as object grasping by using visual information, impact safety motion, and pressure control on the fingertip. Finally, performances of WENDY are also exhibited from several experiments that require high level integration of whole body mechanisms.

Primitive static states for intelligent operated-work machines

Advanced operated-work machines, which have been designed for complicated tasks and which have complicated operating systems, requires intelligent systems that can provide the quantitative work analysis needed to determine effective work procedures and that can provide operational and cognitive support for operators. Construction work environments are extremely complicated, however, and this makes state identification, which is a key technology for an intelligent system, difficult. We therefore defined primitive static states (PSS) that are determined using on-off information for the lever inputs and manipulator loads for each part of the grapple and front and that are completely independent of the various environmental conditions and variation in operator skill level that can cause an incorrect work state identification. To confirm the usefulness of PSS, we performed experiments with a demolition task by using our virtual reality simulator. We confirmed that PSS could robustly and accurately identify the work states and that untrained skills could be easily inferred from the results of PSS-based work analysis. We also confirmed in skill-training experiments that advice information based on PSS-based skill analysis greatly improved operators work performance. We thus confirmed that PSS can adequately identify work states and are useful for work analysis and skill improvement.

Operator Support System Based on Primitive Static States in Intelligent Operated Work Machines

Intelligent functions that can autonomously identify the current work states and also provide informational or operational support to their operators are inevitably required for double-front construction machinery (DFCM), which has been developed for complicated tasks. In this study, which focuses on DFCM, we address the need for a new conceptual design of an operator support system. In particular, a state identification method strongly requires high reliability and robustness to address the complexity of the construction work environment and the variety of the operators skill level. We, therefore, define primitive static states (PSS) that are determined using on–off information for the lever inputs and manipulator loads for each part of the grapple and front. We develop an intelligent system that provides a reduction of operational gain to make precise work easier and an indication of an enlarged image of the end-effector from a different viewpoint to assist depth perception based on PSS identification, and evaluate it using our newly developed simulator. Our experimental results show that the operator support system improves the work performance, including decreasing the operational time for completing a task, reducing the mental workload on the operators and the number of error operations.