Masdar Smart City and Robotics - GineersNow Engineering Magazine Masdar: The Future of Sustainable City in Abu Dhab | Page 22

THIS
ROBOT
HAND CAN
LEARN
FROM ITS
MISTAKES
Photo by: Turner
Many robots nowadays can
do a variety of tasks ranging
from easy to difficult.
They are used in different
industries, but mostly in
manufacturing. Yet while
these robots have an edge in
specific tasks, they can’t do
a given list of chores or learn
certain skills on their own.
Now a new robot hand can
learn how to master new
abilities over time, and it
doesn’t need help from its
programmers. This extra-
dexterous robotic hand
is the product of study
by 3 researchers from the
University of Washington.
They call this the Adroit
manipulation system, and
presented it on Tuesday at
the International Conference
on Robotics and Automation
in Stockholm.
If you’re familiar with Rosie,
the robot maid from the
Jetsons, the Adroit system
is somewhat similar to its
technology. Its hardware
accomplishes tasks better
than humans and is
controlled by a “Brain”
which learns—just like the
human mind. Vikash Kumar,
the lead researcher, and his
team focused on building a
robot that could do general
tasks and be able to adapt.
According to the researchers,
their creation can be used in
many applications like space
exploration and healthcare.
Photo by: Youtube/ ADROIT Manipulation Platform
22
JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics