MIT media lab has achieved a new milestone in the field of robotics with the development of a new robot that is able to show various facial expressions such as “slanting its eyebrow in anger” or “raise them in surprise.” It shows wide variety of facial expressions while communicating with people.
Nexi - The Next Generation Robots
Scientist has named this advanced robot “NEXI”. The name has been derived from the fact that it is the next generation robot which will be used in a range of applications in personal use especially where a human-robot team work is to be carried.
Designing Features of NEXI
Xitome Design, an innovative designing and development company has designed head and face of NEXI. They are specialized in designing cutting edge robotic design and development.
Neck Mechanism:
The expressive robotics started with a neck mechanism sporting 4 degrees of freedom (DoF) at the base, plus pan-tilt-yaw of the head itself. This mechanism has been made to time the movements so they imitate human speed.
Face:
The face of NEXI is also specially designed to use gaze, eyebrows, eyelids and an articulate mandible which helps in expressing a wide range of different emotions.
Chassis:
Chassis of NEXI has been designed and developed by Laboratory for Perceptual Robotics UMASS (University of Massachusetts), Amherst. It is based on uBot5 mobile manipulator. It can balance dynamically on two wheels. Arms of NEXI are able to pick a weight upto 10 pounds.
Head of the Project:
Cynthia Breazeal, a famous robotics expert and associate professor of Media Arts and Sciences at MIT is heading the project NEXI. She has worked successfully on projects like Kismet in the past. She named her new product as an MDS (mobile, dextrous, social) robot. Features of NEXI:
NEXI has many other features except a wide range of facial expressions. It has self-balancing wheels like the Segway transporter, to ultimately ride on. Currently it uses an additional set of supportive wheels to operate as a statically stable platform in its early stage of development. It has hands which can be used to manipulate objects, eyes (video cameras), ears (an array of microphones), and a 3-D infrared camera and laser rangefinder which support real-time tracking of objects, people and voices as well as indoor navigation.
According to a research going on in Leeds, it is possible to capture the kinetic energy produced by soldiers while marching. This energy then can be used to power their equipments. This technology which can convert foot-power into battery power will also reduce the weight of soldiers by 10 Kg.
How the system will work?
The device used for this will use tech ceramics and crystals as piezoelectric transducers to convert mechanical stress to electric charge. Their charge is modified every time soldiers flex their knees or ankles, and the difference in potential energy will be converted into electrical energy. According to official announcements by project team:
“The project will consider the optimum placement of the ‘energy harvesting’ devices, including the back-pack straps and around the knee to provide active support, capturing energy but also cushioning the impact when legs are bent, joints compressed or their boots strike the ground.”
Cost of Project:
This project will take around 1 Million GBP (1.64 Million USD) to conduct. The project team consists of scientists from Bristol, Liverpool, Sheffield, Southampton and Cranfield universities. The project is funded by Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).
Man Behind Project:
Professor Andrew Bell who is Director of Institute of Material Research at Leeds University is heading the project. In his words:
“As well as the obvious green issue of using so many batteries, it could also reduce a soldier’s pack weight by around 15 per cent. And this technology could potentially have lots of applications in civvy street too”.
We hope so!
Major Benefits from this Invention:
This project is designed to help the soldiers on duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. A regular infantryman on 6-hour petrol carries a backpack that consists of items such as torches, radios, water, communication systems and kits for electric offset measures. This weighs about 75 Kg but if the new equipments are added then it can reduce the weight by 10 Kg. This equipment will also act as a shock-absorber, when placed on soles of boot. It will also reduce the impact on joints on long marches and thus reduces stress on legs.
Major Problems in Project Idea:
Although this type of energy harvesting idea has been used in cars in which braking force is stored and then used to drive vehicle further. But as long as capturing energy from walking of people is concerned it is little bit difficult because highly flexible and strong materials are needed for this and everyone has a different walking pattern.
But according to professor Bell they will surely succeed in this effort due to the holistic approach they are taking over this. He says:
“By using the latest materials and electronics combined with taking into account personal differences in walking style we are confident we can make this work without adding to the burden or fatigue of the soldier wearing the device.”
Actually this project is a part of a bigger research called “Battery Free Soldiers,” which includes research on methods to convert and store energy from other sources such as solar energy and body heat.
