New iCub 3 biped robotic used as a long-distance avatar for its operator

We first heard concerning the child-like iCub humanoid robotic again in 2011, when it was nominated to participate within the Olympic Torch Relay. The most recent and best model, the iCub 3, was the star of a recently-announced (and fairly spectacular) telepresence demonstration.

Developed on the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italian Institute of Know-how, or IIT), the biped iCub 3 incorporates a complete of 53 actuated levels of freedom – seven in every arm, 9 in every hand, six within the head, three within the torso/waist and 6 in every leg. Its head incorporates swivelling stereo cameras which function eyes, twin microphones for ears, and animated traces of LEDs which symbolize its mouth and eyebrows inside its face panel.

Tactile sensors inside every of its fingertips moreover give the robotic a way of contact. It is 25 cm taller and 19 kg heavier than earlier fashions, topping out at 1.25 m (4 ft, 1 in) and tipping the scales at 52 kg (115 lb). Different enhancements embody a higher-capacity battery (positioned within the torso versus on the again); extra highly effective leg motors for quicker strolling speeds; higher, extra human-like stability and locomotion; plus a brand new depth-sensing digital camera.

The iCub 3 makes its way through the Italian pavilion, remotely controlled by its human operator — The iCub 3 makes its means by the Italian pavilion, remotely managed by its human operator

For the demo – which befell on Nov. eighth, 2021 – the robotic was positioned on the seventeenth Worldwide Structure Exhibition’s Italian Pavilion in Venice, whereas its operator was 300 km (186 mi) away at an IIT lab within the metropolis of Genova. An ordinary fiber optic connection was used to hyperlink the 2.

The operator utilized a set of wearable units, which is called the iFeel system. These devices embody a number of IMUs (inertial measurement models) positioned at varied areas on a physique swimsuit; “gloves” that each observe the consumer’s finger actions and relay tactile sensations from the robotic’s finger pads; and a VR headset – the latter tracks the consumer’s facial expressions, eyelids and eye actions, picks up their voice, plus it permits them to see what the robotic is seeing, and to listen to what it is listening to.

Moreover, the operator stood in a VR rig that allowed them to stroll on the spot.

The iCub 3's operator, all suited up in the iFeel system — The iCub 3’s operator, all suited up within the iFeel system

This mixture of applied sciences let robotic function an avatar for the operator, because it walked across the pavilion, had a dialog with a human tour information, shook their hand, and even hugged them – for the latter, haptic suggestions models within the torso of the physique swimsuit let the operator really feel that hug. Every little thing occurred in actual time, with a lag of only some milliseconds.

“We consider that this analysis course has an incredible potential in lots of fields,” stated the challenge’s coordinator, IIT’s Daniele Pucci. “On the one hand, the latest pandemic taught us that superior telepresence programs may grow to be mandatory in a short time throughout totally different fields, like healthcare and logistics. Then again, avatars might enable folks with extreme bodily disabilities to work and achieve duties in the actual world through the robotic physique. This can be an evolution of rehabilitation and prosthetics applied sciences.”

Highlights from the iCub 3 demonstration might be seen within the following video.