The DLR-KUKA success story: robotics research improves industrial robots

Author

Hirzinger, Gerd ; Bals, Johann ; Otter, Martin ; Stelter, Johannes

Author_Institution

Inst. of Robotics & Mechatronics, DLR, Wessling, Germany

Volume

12

Issue

3

fYear

2005

Firstpage

16

Lastpage

23

Abstract

This paper discusses the joint venture between the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics and the German robot manufacturer, KUKA Robotics GmbH, for the successful transfer of the knowledge in robot dynamics and control, human robot interaction, and sensory feedback as originally developed for the remote control of space robots to industrial robotics. This technology transfer venture aims to promote more industrial sensory feedback applications with particular focus on the fusion of vision and force, while merging service and industrial robots into the future. As such, the aim is to transfer new robonaut technologies and ultra-lightweight, torque-controlled, kinematically redundant arms with multifingered articulated hands into the terrestrial robot industry.

Keywords

aerospace robotics; industrial control; industrial robots; technology transfer; Cartesian impedance control; DLR-KUKA; human-centered applications; industrial robots; industrial sensory feedback; kinematically redundant arms; robonaut technologies; robotic research; soft robotics; ultralight-weight torque-controlled redundant arms; Aerospace industry; Defense industry; Force feedback; Human robot interaction; Manufacturing industries; Orbital robotics; Robot control; Robot sensing systems; Service robots; Space technology;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Robotics & Automation Magazine, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1070-9932

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/MRA.2005.1511865

Filename

1511865