ETH Lausanne is researching with latest technology

Yaskawa: Robots for research ETH Lausanne is researching with latest technology

2024-07-29 Source: Press release | Translated by AI 4 min Reading Time

Related Vendors

YASKAWA Europe GmbH Robotics Division

SwissDrives AG

YASKAWA Europe GmbH

FAULHABER Drive Systems

tmts2026-ticec-banner-en-2000px (https://www.tmts.tw/en)

Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA)

more less

The Reconfigurable Robotics Lab (RRL) at ETH Lausanne (EPFL) is at the forefront of future automation research. The Swiss specialists are particularly focused on developing groundbreaking robotic systems. They have now added a Yaskawa HC10 robot to their advanced toolkit.

With the Yaskawa Cobot, the team of researchers at the Reconfigurable Robotics Lab (RRL) at ETH Lausanne (EPFL) can significantly expand its investigation into the future of automation and collaborative robotics.(Image: Yaskawa Europe) — With the Yaskawa Cobot, the team of researchers at the Reconfigurable Robotics Lab (RRL) at ETH Lausanne (EPFL) can significantly expand its investigation into the future of automation and collaborative robotics.
(Image: Yaskawa Europe)

Soft and origami robots could soon shape industrial automation. They consist of three or multi-angular modules that are assembled into different shapes. These robots then move in all spatial directions. To this end, Alexander Schüssler, PhD student at the Reconfigurable Robotics Lab (RRL) of the ETH Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, explains: "Our robots are inspired by the Japanese art of paper folding. That's why we call them reconfigurable origami robots."

Interactive and reconfigurable

The researchers in Lausanne are dedicated to inventing interactive robotic systems using previously unused manufacturing techniques and integration processes. With this, they intend to expand the limits of mechanical properties. In the future, robots are expected to be soft, reconfigurable, and interactive. They will adapt to the environment. They will be used in mobile applications, in medicine, for example also in rehabilitation and as personal companions.

Gallery

Prof. Jamie Paik explains the use of the HC10 cobot in researching the function of tactile sensors.(Image: Yaskawa Europe)

With the help of a cobot, researchers at ETH Lausanne, for example, precisely measure the forces that occur when pressing a squeeze ball.(Image: Yaskawa Europe)

Optional Cobot or Robot

The RRL at ETH Lausanne has existed for 12 years. The team consists of professionals from various disciplines. For their research, the specialists have access to a wide range of tools and equipment. However, the lab has so far lacked an industrial robot. "For a robotics lab, that sounds a bit unusual," admits Alexander Schüssler. Therefore, they looked for a suitable robot, whose construction, shape, geometry and kinematics have proven themselves in industrial practice.

Precision and high-quality work were essential criteria that were taken into account in the selection. The use of the mechanical "scientific associate" in experiments makes the results repeatable and understandable, and the data more robust. Since May 28, 2024, a Cobot HC10 from Yaskawa has been supporting the team in Lausanne. The 6-axis robot can carry loads up to 10 kg. It can reach up to 1379 mm (effectively 1200 mm) far. As a Cobot, i.e., a collaborative robot, it is suitable for working safely in cooperation with humans without a protective fence. Depending on the requirement, the Cobot can also be used as a high-quality industrial robot with safely monitored operation and full performance and speed.

Globally recognized research

ETH Lausanne (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL), with about 12,000 students and doctoral students from over 120 countries and more than 370 laboratories, is one of the most important technical-natural science universities in Switzerland and is active in areas such as renewable energies, medical technology, neurotechnologies, materials sciences, and information technologies.
The RRL conducts research on the design, drive technology, manufacturing, and control of interactive robotic systems that transcend the boundaries of traditional robotics systems. This includes novel robot concepts such as origami and soft robots, new technologies for drives and sensors, as well as modeling and control.

Accurate and fast

"The precision of the industrial robot is impressive," says Alexander Schüssler. "We are researchers and therefore used to our robots being full of challenges - normally, we are busy solving problems and getting malfunctions under control. With the HC10, it's completely different. Even the installation was very easy. Now we can just switch it on, and it performs all movements with the utmost precision and quality." The robot is currently being used to measure forces and to collect data on the behavior of the reconfigurable robots during rapid movements. "Precision and speed were very essential requirements for us, and we only found these fulfilled at Yaskawa. The Swiss Yaskawa partner SwissDrives AG also advised us excellently and was also at our side in the technical processing," explains Alexander Schüssler.

Connect via open platform

The researchers connect the controller of the Cobots and the controller of their reconfigurable robots via the Robot Operating System ROS 2. The latter is a flexible and modular open-source software platform, which is supported by Yaskawa. Other sensors can be connected to the open software system, for example, to measure pressure or to detect infrared rays (heat). "This way, we can for example, collect data on human-robot interactions, even if both are not in the same location—so-called remote human interaction," explains Alexander Schüssler.

Researchers look into the future

Prof. Jamie Paik, associate professor at the RRL, is also delighted about their new scientific associate. Through him, the researchers not only get much more data in their experiments, but these are also more accurate. "Reproducibility, repetition, and consistency are very important in research to work scientifically," explains Jamie Paik. And she takes a look ahead. "The Cobot allows us to conduct novel experiments today, but in the future it might also open up possibilities and experimental fields that we are not even considering today," she confidently states.

(kmu)

This article was first published on our sister portal 'SMM—Schweizer MaschinenMarkt' (German Language), Vogel Communications Group

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

Additionally, my consent also includes the processing of my email address and telephone number for data matching for marketing purposes with select advertising partners such as LinkedIn, Google, and Meta. For this, Vogel Communications Group may transmit said data in hashed form to the advertising partners who then use said data to determine whether I am also a member of the mentioned advertising partner portals. Vogel Communications Group uses this feature for the purposes of re-targeting (up-selling, cross-selling, and customer loyalty), generating so-called look-alike audiences for acquisition of new customers, and as basis for exclusion for on-going advertising campaigns. Further information can be found in section “data matching for marketing purposes”.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here. This does not apply to data matching for marketing purposes.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://contact.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.