We held demonstrations including a variety of application examples and use cases from different industries. ◆Robot application
We demonstrated various combinations of robot arm and gripper, and software algorithms for different functions:
(1) Industrial robot FANUC + vision-based tactile sensor + weight estimation software using image recognition for king oyster mushroom picking
(2) Collaborative robot FANUC (Modbus/TCP) + vision-based tactile sensor in a tug of war with a robot
(3) SCARA robot Yaskawa + industrial (high durability, high gripping force) gripper for high-speed picking
(4) Collaborative robot Techman Robot + vision-based tactile sensor for flower picking
◆Sensor devices Visitors were also welcome to handle the vision-based tactile sensor, which is a key device.
They could examine a detachable robot hand with a vision-based tactile sensor and a firmness-sensing device.
◆Collaboration project
Our tactile hand was installed in a robot application exhibited at the booth of YANAGIHARA MECHAX. A FANUC robot arm equipped with our vision-based tactile sensor and weight estimation computer vision algorithm were integrated to pick up king oyster mushrooms from a conveyor belt and place them on a tray.
Client's requirement
The client required three pieces of king oyster mushroom, with a total weight of 100 grams, plus or minus 10%, to be placed in a serving tray. King oyster mushrooms vary widely in terms of shape, size and weight. Some mushrooms are attached to each other, while others are separate. Therefore, if a robot picks up mushrooms randomly, the total weight may not meet the client’s requirements. Without taking into consideration shape, size and weight differences, and the possibility that mushrooms may be attached to each other, meeting the client’s weight requirement will be a case of trial and error.
Our technical approach and Key function
Before mushrooms are picked up, our weight estimation computer algorithm is employed, allowing the software to estimate the weight of each mushroom that is moving on the conveyor belt before the robot arm moves to pick up the mushrooms. In this way, combinations of three mushrooms moving on the conveyor belt that have a total weight of 100 grams can be identified. Following this identification, the robot arm will pick up each of the three mushrooms, one by one, using FingerVision’s visison-based tactile sensor.
This technical approach meets the client’s speed and weight requirements, representing the optimal trade-off between the two characteristics.
◆International Robot Exhibition 2023 "iREX2023" ONSITE Exhibition details
・When：Nov. 29 (Wed.) – Dec.2 (Sat.), 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
・Where：Industrial Robot Zone East 7 Hall E7-84
・Contents：Demonstration of tactile robot hand for multiple robots
・Collaboration projects with Yanagihara Mechanics：Incorporating tactile hands into robotics applications
◆Exhibitor Seminar Overview
・When：Nov. 30 (Thu.), 2023, 1:30 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
・Where：Seminar Room C (East Hall 8, Business Meeting Rooms 1-3)
・Speaker：Chief Executive Officer and President Yuki Nono
・Theme：Guide to the practical implementation of tactile sensors
◆Webinar Delivery Content Details
・When：Nov. 29 (Wed.), 2023, 3:30 p.m. – 4:10 p.m. B-6
・Contents：Guide to the practical implementation of tactile sensors