Despite their advanced capabilities—from exploring distant planets to conducting intricate surgeries—robots continue to struggle with simple human tasks. One of the biggest hurdles is dexterity: the skill of grasping, holding, and manipulating objects. But that may be changing. Researchers at the Toyota Research Institute in Massachusetts have now trained a robot to use its whole body to manage large objects, mimicking the way humans do.
Humans use a combination of fine motor skills—like precise hand movements—and gross motor skills involving the arms, legs, and torso to pick up and handle objects. Robots, however, struggle with these larger, full-body movements, such as lifting and stabilizing a big box, because they require continuous, complex adjustments to maintain control and avoid dropping the object.
A Humanoid Robot Demonstrating Advanced Object Handling
In a study published in Science Robotics, researchers showcased a humanoid upper-body robot named Punyo that could lift a large water jug onto its shoulder and grasp a big box. Punyo used feedback from its soft, pressure-sensitive skin and joint sensors to coordinate its movements.
The robot’s success was largely due to the softness of its body (known as passive compliance) and the flexibility programmed into its joints (active compliance). Compared to a rigid version, this compliant design led to significantly better performance. “Incorporating any form of compliance—passive, active, or both—improved outcomes, boosting success rates by an average of 206% over a non-compliant model,” the researchers noted.
Another key advantage was the robot’s ability to learn quickly. Using a technique called example-guided reinforcement learning, the researchers trained Punyo with just one virtual demonstration. From there, it practiced independently until it mastered the task. As the team explained, “A single teleoperated demonstration in simulation is enough to train effective policies for complex, contact-heavy movements.”
More Capable Robots
This technology marks a major advancement toward developing robots that are more useful in everyday life. For instance, they could safely and efficiently handle bulky items like furniture at home or heavy packages in warehouses. They might also assist in care environments, helping individuals with mobility issues. Importantly, these robots wouldn’t require detailed programming—they could learn human-like skills from just one example.
Read the original article on: Tech Xplore
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