People with prosthetic arms are teaching robots how to feel and touch like humans.
It is hoped the tests will improve their dexterity for delicate tasks, like gripping, using real-world data from humans.
ABB Robotics announced a collaboration with California-based bionics company PSYONIC.
ABB’s GoFa collaborative robot – or cobot – will use PSYNOIC’s Ability Hand prosthetic.
It will explore how touch and motion data generated through prosthetic use can help train robots perform variable tasks that are difficult to automate.
Marc Segura, president of ABB Robotics, said: ‘Human dexterity and the instinctive understanding of how to handle different objects is one of the most difficult things to replicate in industrial-grade robotics, but it’s a fundamental need for truly autonomous and versatile robots.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
‘As we develop the next generation physical AI, robots will learn and understand the world as we do. This collaboration with PSYONIC will help to close the long-standing gap between human and robot dexterity, opening up new possibilities for a wide range of industries.’
The firms say grasping and dexterity are key components of ABB Robotics’ vision for Autonomous Versatile Robotics, in which robots are capable of sensing, reasoning, moving and manipulating objects with precision in dynamic settings.
The technology is also seen as an important step towards advancing physical artificial intelligence in industry, enabling robotic systems to learn from real-world interactions and apply that knowledge reliably in industrial environments.
ABB and PSYONIC believe the technology could eventually be used across a range of sectors, including automotive manufacturing, aerospace, packaging and logistics, and life sciences.
The companies say it could allow robots to take on repetitive tasks, physically demanding work and jobs that are difficult to perform consistently on a large scale, helping to improve productivity, flexibility and workplace safety.