| PrimeSense, the leading natural interface and 3D sensing company, responsible for the technology used by Microsoft's Kinect, is now directly applying its core technology to robotics. In France's CFIIF SAMI robot, the sensor technology is used to interact with people and avoid collisions. |
, is now directly applying its core technology to robotics.Kinect sensors have been applied to robotic research projects over the years for Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) data-based algorithms. MIT has used the system to add SLAM to their PR2 research robot, and Talyor Veltrop demonstrated a Kinect-enabled NAO robot earlier this year that could use telerobotic functionality to groom a cat.
PrimeSense offered their sensors to be employed in iRobot’s telecommunication robot, Ava, and presently they have made their way in SAMI, a robot platform developed by CRIIF (Centre de RobotiqueIntégrée d-Île-de-France). One of the sensors incorporated in SAMI could be found in the robot’s torso and the other could be found in the robot’s base, to perceive people and to prevent collision respectively.
SAMI is a prototype that represents the future of robotics – he was built to be utilized and deployed cross-industry from healthcare to manufacturing to entertainment and intelligent transportation systems. He also was built cheaply, with quality materials and technology. SAMI is a mobile, autonomous and interactive robot. Human-sized, it has two robotic arms, allowing it to travel alone, avoid obstacles, navigate in its environment and especially interact with people.
SAMI holds an extensive range of prospective applications, taking into account also the manufacturing and the healthcare sectors. The PrimeSense technology plus the sensors’ reasonable price should do good while hitting the market in both the above mentioned sectors, where mainly in the latter sector, SAMI could end up helping the disabled or elderly or it could even push the wheelchairs if needed.
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| Image Source: Forbes |
Press Release
PrimeSense Sensors Accelerate the Robotics Industry
PrimeSense™ (http://www.primesense.com/), the leader in Natural Interaction® and 3D sensing, announced today that its sensors were used in a new mobile robotic platform called SAMI, a life-sized, semi-humanoid robot prototype that can be utilized cross-industry from healthcare to manufacturing to entertainment and intelligent transportation systems.
Created by the research and technology transfer lab CRIIF (Centre de RobotiqueIntégrée d-Île-de-France), SAMI is a mobile, autonomous and interactive robot. Human-sized, it has an expressive face, two robotic arms and an omnidirectional platform, allowing it to travel alone, avoid obstacles, navigate in its environment and especially interact with people and objects.
SAMI integrates two PrimeSense sensors: one located in the torso to detect humans, as well as one on the mobile base for navigation to scan the environment and avoid obstacles. Using the OpenNI™ open source framework and PrimeSense sensors for applications in healthcare, industrial and research markets, SAMI is designed to do everything humans can do, including carry large loads and open doors. Another potential use aimed for SAMI is to enable to operating with workers (cobotics) for industrial applications. An operator even miles away in front of the PrimeSense sensor could move his body and his arms naturally, while the robot reproduced exactly the same movements.
PrimeSense sensors are already being deployed in other robots such as the iRobot Ava™ mobile robotics platform. Ava, an app ready robot, uses tablet-based control and autonomous navigation to maneuver in complex real world environments. Robots like Ava have great potential for multiple applications in business, retail, security, healthcare and industrial environments.
The robotics industry continues to grow at a rapid pace. In 2008, the total world robot population including service and industrial robots was 8.6 million ande xpected to grow to 13 million by the end of 2012.
"Robots will be practically everywhere in the near future: assisting the elderly, in home care, as personal and security service providers, and they will circulate within a networked environment of communicating devices in the home and work place," said Ohad Shvueli, Vice President, Commercial markets, Primesense. "Primesense technology is positioned to help the robotics industry expedite the pursuit of practical, affordable robotic solutions and create a healthy robotics ecosystem for robotic entrepreneurs, innovators, designers, and application developers. Our sensors enable the robots to see the users and the environment around them."
"Sensors have become a very large centerpiece of advanced robotics. Robotics doesn't really have its own technology, it uses pieces of others, so SAMI is one prototype that is taking advantage of this new technology," said Rodolphe Hasselvander, Director General, CRIIF. "Thanks to advanced technologies such as PrimeSense 3D sensor, originally used in other consumer applications (such as gaming), we are beginning to see a revolution in robotics, opening up limitless possibilities. Both the PrimeSense technology and the sensor's affordable price allow us to reach the mass market with industrial technologies that will be feasible, usable and not too expensive," added Hasselvander.
As the world's population ages, mobile robotic platforms such as SAMI or Ava have the potential to be applied to the healthcare industry -- from helping the elderly or disabled at home to pushing wheelchairs and bringing residents to the cafeteria or outdoors in eldercare homes. In industrial applications, SAMI could complete many tasks that are hazardous to humans.
SOURCE Engadet
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I like SAMI's face (and hair) - he has a very naive human expression, which makes me feel a bit sorry for him having to do all the tasks we resent doing.
ReplyDeleteHe seems like a lovely project :)
Michelle