A challenge of the Italian Institute of Expertise (IIT) and the Italian Nationwide Institute for Insurance coverage towards Accidents at Work (INAIL).
ergoCub, born from a analysis middle and an insurance coverage firm
The Italian Institute of Expertise (IIT) is a public analysis middle that’s devoted to the event of science and expertise. Amongst its areas of experience, robotics occupies an necessary place. The IIT is understood for having created iCub, a humanoid robotic able to studying and interacting with its surroundings.
The Nationwide Institute for Insurance coverage towards Accidents at Work (INAIL) is a public Italian institute that goals to guard employees from occupational dangers. It affords medical, financial and social advantages to victims of labor accidents or occupational illnesses.
These two establishments have joined forces to launch the ergoCub challenge, which goals to design and construct a brand new collaborative humanoid robotic, impressed by the expertise of iCub, that meets the necessities of acceptability, usability, security and ergonomics for employees.
A robotic tailored to logistic environments
The ergoCub challenge begins from the remark that digitalization, the web of issues and robotic parts launched in manufacturing processes with the appearance of trade 4.0 have modified the working situations in lots of sectors, particularly logistics.
Warehouses are locations the place employees should carry out repetitive, tiring and generally harmful duties, equivalent to loading, unloading, sorting or transporting items. These actions can result in musculoskeletal problems, accidents or stress.
The ergoCub robotic is designed to work in partnership with human operators in these environments. Its form, measurement, energy and mass distribution make it appropriate for dealing with heavy or cumbersome objects whereas respecting the house and security of individuals.
A robotic outfitted with synthetic intelligence
The ergoCub robotic just isn’t a easy mechanical device, however a real clever accomplice. A synthetic intelligence offers it the power to be taught from its expertise and adapt to unexpected conditions.
ergoCub is ready to acknowledge objects, individuals and gestures due to visible and tactile sensors. It could actually additionally talk with human operators by voice or facial expressions. It could actually thus obtain directions, ask for assist or specific its feelings.
The robotic can also be in a position to plan its actions in keeping with the goals to be achieved and the environmental constraints. It could actually cooperate with different robots or with people to carry out complicated or coordinated duties.
A robotic respectful of employees’ well-being
The ergoCub robotic just isn’t solely a manner to enhance productiveness and effectivity in warehouses, but additionally an element of well-being for employees. Certainly, it goals to cut back the psychophysical danger related to strenuous or harmful actions.
The robotic can relieve human operators of probably the most tiring or repetitive duties, permitting them to deal with extra expert or inventive actions. It could actually additionally present them with ethical or emotional assist, making a relationship of belief and empathy.
The ergoCub robotic can contribute to the prevention of labor accidents, by respecting security requirements and alerting people in case of vital conditions. It could actually additionally intervene in case of emergency, by offering first assist or calling for assist.
A robotic underneath growth
The ergoCub challenge was launched in 2020. INAIL funds the challenge with 5 million euros. It entails a multidisciplinary group of researchers, engineers, builders and technicians from IIT and INAIL.
The ergoCub challenge plans to supply two prototypes of humanoid robots. They are going to be examined in actual or simulated environments. The checks will goal to judge the technical, useful and ergonomic efficiency of the robots. They will even assess their social and moral acceptability by employees. A digital surroundings primarily based on the Gazebo software program can simulate the robotic, reproducing the true situations of warehouses.
The ergoCub challenge additionally plans to disseminate the outcomes obtained via scientific publications, conferences, demonstrations and communication actions. The aim is to lift public consciousness and stakeholder consciousness of the alternatives and challenges that collaborative robotics represents for the world of labor.
A robotic primarily based on iCub expertise
The ergoCub robotic is predicated on iCub expertise, the humanoid robotic developed by IIT since 2004. iCub is a 104 cm tall and 22 kg weight robotic, which has 53 levels of freedom and a childlike look. It’s outfitted with visible, auditory, tactile and proprioceptive sensors, which permit it to understand its surroundings and its personal physique. It additionally has a cognitive system primarily based on the paradigm of sensorimotor growth. This permits it to be taught by expertise and interplay.
The robotic retains some options of iCub, such because the modular construction, kinematic redundancy, variable compliance and distributed management. It differs nonetheless by its bigger measurement (150 cm), lighter weight (15 kg), extra ergonomic form and skill to deal with heavier objects (as much as 10 kg). It’s outfitted with new sensors and actuators, equivalent to stereo cameras, power/torque sensors on the toes or pneumatic grippers.
A robotic that asks questions
The ergoCub robotic is a concrete instance of how robotics can be utilized for the prevention and safety of employees. It additionally illustrates the progress made within the area of synthetic intelligence. This permits machines to be taught, adapt and talk with people.
However the ergoCub robotic additionally raises necessary questions in regards to the social, financial and moral affect of introducing robots into work environments. What would be the penalties on employment, coaching, well being, security, legal responsibility, belief, cooperation or competitors between people and machines? How to make sure respect for the rights, values and wishes of employees within the face of market calls for?
It’s out of the query to disregard or postpone these questions. These questions can’t be ignored or postponed. They should be addressed now, with a participatory and multidimensional strategy. This entails all stakeholders: researchers, companies, unions, establishments, associations, media and residents. As a result of it’s collectively that we should construct the way forward for work within the age of robotics.