iRobot yields impressive results for DARPA’s ARM program
An Affordable, Adaptable, Resilient, Robust Robotic Hand
The ARM-H track of DARPA’s Autonomous Robotic Manipulation (ARM) program focuses on development of robust, low-cost and dexterous robotic hand hardware. DARPA funded performers to design and build hand mechanisms that could replace the claw-like hands currently used on robots with hands incorporating 3-4 fingers and useable palms. The teams successfully produced hands that can be manufactured for as little as $3,000 per unit (in batches of 1,000 or more), down from the $50,000 cost of current technology. The new hands also incorporate sufficient dexterity to enable manipulation of objects in their fingers when controlled by a skilled operator. This technology helps pave the way for adaptable, low-cost robots that can use a wide range of human tools to assist in dangerous defense missions. The hand in this video was developed by iRobot of Bedford, Mass., with support from Harvard University and Yale University.
For more information on DARPA’s ARM program, see:http://go.usa.gov/vE5
