Applicability of Artificial Robotic Skin for Industrial Manipulators

Abstract

As the concept of cooperation between robots and humans is becoming more and more popular, companies develop devices transforming industrial manipulators into cobots, or collaborative robots intended to interact with humans. Their interactions with humans can be enabled by equipping the robots with so-called artificial robotic skins, which allow robots to receive and interpret touch. However, it is only in limited conditions that such manipulators comply with international standards. In this paper, the applicability of robotic skins for industrial purposes is assessed based on experimental trials. The procedure involved colliding robotic skin pads with a pendulum. The amount of energy transferred during the impact was calculated from measured deviation. The study showed that industrial robots equipped with artificial robotic skins can be safely used when the velocity of motion is within a very limited range of maximum velocity. It is suggested that this range may be extended to more feasible by decreasing stiffness of the materials used to make the pads or by improving sensitivity of sensors.