Water-powered robotic figure gains lifelike characteristics through innovative technology
Clone Robotics, a pioneering Polish startup, is transforming the realm of humanoid robotics. Established in 2021, the company seeks to address the stagnation in this field and has already made notable advancements.
At the core of Clone Robotics' creations are androids designed with full-scale human movements and tasks in mind. These robots utilize a unique musculoskeletal design, inspired by the McKibben design, which employs pressurized tubes that mimic human skeletal muscle. These pressurized tubes, also known as fluidic muscles, consist of an inner rubber tube wrapped in an inextensible textile sleeve.
The brain of these robots is powered by NVIDIA Jetson chips, responsible for planning and motion control. Clone Robotics has also harnessed recent breakthroughs in deep learning to control complex, soft-bodied robots with high degrees of freedom.
Sensors measure joint position, torque, muscle length, and force, making the androids easier to control. This technology enables the robots to perform human-like tasks, such as opening heavy doors and slicing fruits and vegetables.
Clone Robotics' first triumph was the creation of a human-like robotic arm in just 18 months. This achievement paved the way for the development of a full-body prototype within a year. The hand of the robot was built first, as it carries out most tasks and has the highest degrees of freedom compared to any other body part.
The company's latest creation, Protoclone V1, was released earlier this year. This human prototype boasts over 200 degrees of freedom, 1,000 Myofibers, and 500 sensors. Protoclone V1 also features tendons, ligaments, and muscles similar to humans, enabling it to mimic human skeletal muscle performance.
Clone Robotics' Co-founder and CEO, Dhanush Radhakrishnan, discussed the company's journey, musculoskeletal design philosophy, and product development in a podcast with tech content creator Anastasiia Nosova. Radhakrishnan's early inspiration for building androids was not specified in the text. However, he did discuss his vision involving robots working in human environments.
The robots run on a hydraulic system powered by a compact pump, called a 'hydraulic heart,' which uses water. Clone Robotics' first full-scale humanoid robot, Clone Alpha, was introduced in December. The team is currently developing its next Android robot version, the Neoclone.
Radhakrishnan's vision for the future of robotics is one where androids can seamlessly integrate into human environments, assisting with a wide range of tasks. As Clone Robotics continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in humanoid robotics, we can look forward to a future where these lifelike machines become an integral part of our daily lives.
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