PURPOSE Robotic Arms

The future of robotics relies on intelligent software. The kinds of the programs necessary for a robotic system to complete tasks such as making a meal would require the ability to adapt to situations and learn by experience the way no program today can. Steps in new programing techniques such as genetic programing will be essential to allowing robots to be truly useful in assisting our every day lives. PURPOSE is a robotic arm that when working alone or paired with another can perform an enormous array of tasks. This model is specifically set up to demonstrate "Purpose" as an aid in food preparation, but could be installed in other rooms to perform tasks such as cleaning or organizing. "Purpose" runs on a guide track along the ceiling, meaning it can easily reach any point in a room. It can also quickly move up and out of the way should anyone need to move past it. Ideally there would be two arms to a track. Because they can move independently, they can work together for tasks requiring two hands, or apart from each other on separate tasks. The four cameras at the base of "Purpose" allow it to judge its environment and precisely navigate its surroundings. Each joint has an electric motor connected to a cycloidal reduction drive to maximize the energy density of the motor and allow the arm to operate with high torque and high precision. The grippers are a highlight of the design. With each finger being able to move in two axes, a large variety of hand positions can be achieved with only six motors. This allows the hand to be able to hold onto objects of almost any shape. The fingers can also be turned back to allow attachments, such as the whisk in the model, to be used for a specific task. Huge software advancements are bound to happen by the year 2025. When it becomes possible for machines to adapt to their environments, robots like Purpose will change the way we live. Right now, it’s the software that is the limiting factor of performance, not the machine. As software advances however, a well-designed machine like Purpose will become a necessity.