Stellenbosch University Unveils Revolutionary Humanoid Robot Set to Redefine Remote Operation Research
The humanoid robot will soon learn bipedal walking to enhance its human-like interaction.
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A humanoid robot has been welcomed into the campus of Stellenbosch University, thanks to the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
The robot was developed to serve as a research material to advance robotics technology at the university.
As described by Engineering News, it features a functional torso and a fully operable right arm and hand, although the left part is still under development. Designed to show how robotics can mimic human-like movements, it's expected to pave the way for future developments in the field.
To make it more human-like, the robot comes with a webcam for vision tracking, which works alongside advanced software that enables it to analyze and mimic human movements in real time. Known as inverse kinematics, this allows the robot to follow the motions of a human operator.
In the same report, Dr. William Duckitt, a lecturer in the said department at SU, stated that the integrated technology makes it capable of remote operation. In fact, the platform can be theoretically controlled from anywhere in the world.
Robotic Development from Stellenbosch University
For now, the next stage of research for the robot will focus on developing actuators for its legs to achieve bipedal walking. This is a major step to make the robot fully mobile so it can fully mirror human motion. With this ability, it will help the robot interact more realistically since it will be able to act beyond basic arm and hand movement.
Students, to add, will also be involved in the robotic projects. Undergraduate SU students on their final-year projects will now design and develop custom actuators as well as the other developments planned for the robot. Through hands-on experience, it will help a new generation of engineers to deepen their contributions to robotics research.
Aside from the physical development, a master's student will also work on the virtual robotics simulations to achieve sim-to-real transition where simulations are applied to real-world prototypes. Previously used in particle accelerator control systems will allow the team to handle complex tasks with ease.
