Hand-in Glove Robotic Technology
Cutting Tool Engineering's September 2016 Look Ahead section features a robotic glove to enhance the strength and dexterity of human assemblers.
We know that manufacturing has entered the digital age, but never as literally as a recently introduced robotic glove developed via a partnership between General Motors and NASA for use on the International Space Station. It is finding new life on Earth in manufacturing and other industrial applications through a licensing agreement between GM and Bioservo Technologies AB, a Swedish medical technology company.
Working with GM, Bioservo will combine technology from its SEM Glove (Soft Extra Muscle) technology with the RoboGlove, a force-multiplying, battery-powered wearable developed by GM and NASA during a 9-year collaboration that included the launch of the humanoid robot called Robonaut 2 (R2) into space in 2011.
RoboGlove, developed by GM and NASA, is being improved with SEM Glove technology for use in manufacturing by Bioservo Technologies. Image courtesy General Motors.
Review the print ads from this magazine to continue
This quick advertiser review unlocks the rest of the article and keeps the full-screen reader focused on the ads instead of the page chrome.
Advertisers included in this article experience
Print placements connected to this article
Kennametal
GROOVING SEPT
EMBE R 12- CUT-OFF, AND M E EE U AND S ! S CO ICAGO MULTI-DIRECTIONAL IN CH TURNING BOOT H W-1 MADE... Face Grooving Grooving Deep Grooving Beyond Evolution is the new single-sided Cut-Off grooving and cut-off tool that also performs multi-directional turning. Side Turning Chamfering Profiling Facing.
GROOVING SEPT EMBE R 12- CUT-OFF, AND M E EE U AND S ! S CO ICAGO MULTI-DIRECTIONAL IN CH TURNING BOOT
Visit Kennametal View this placement in the issue recordPrint ads from this magazine
EMBE R 12- CUT-OFF, AND M E EE U AND S ! S CO ICAGO MULTI-DIRECTIONAL IN CH TURNING BOOT H W-1 MADE... Face Grooving Grooving Deep Grooving Beyond Evolution is the new single-sided Cut-Off grooving and cut-off tool that also performs multi-directional turning. Side Turning Chamfering Profiling Facing.
GROOVING SEPT EMBE R 12- CUT-OFF, AND M E EE U AND S ! S CO ICAGO MULTI-DIRECTIONAL IN CH TURNING BOOT
Continue reading
September 2016
The RoboGlove uses sensors, actuators and tendons that are comparable to the nerves, muscles and tendons in a human hand. One design requirement for R2 was to operate tools designed for humans, and developers reportedly achieved unprecedented hand dexterity. That technology was applied to the RoboGlove.
If you think technology that could improve hand strength and dexterity might be useful in manufacturing, well, you put your finger on it. Bioservo will initially develop a new grasp-assist device for industrial use that could increase human-operator efficiency while reducing fatigue in hand muscles. Research shows fatigue can occur within a few minutes of continuously gripping a tool.
GM intends to be the first U.S. manufacturing customer for the refined robotic glove and will test it in some of its plants. “The successor to RoboGlove can reduce the amount of force that a worker needs to exert when operating a tool for an extended time or with repetitive motions,” said Kurt Wiese, vice president of GM Global Manufacturing Engineering.
GM briefly tested RoboGlove in a preproduction plant before looking for a partner to help refine it to fit different-size hands and address other issues.
For more information about RoboGlove, visit tinyurl.com/CTE-GMGlove. To learn more about Bio
servo Technologies AB, visit www.bioservo.com/en.
Related
MFGAxis Discussion
Be part of the shop-floor conversation
Like, save, or comment on this CTE story.
MFGAxis Discussion