Current COBOT end-effectors are expensive, highly specific, and require a significant time commitment to program. For each process that needs automation, companies must hire specialized personnel and dedicate extensive time and money. Highly precise solutions, such as five-finger end-effectors, are seldom used in the assembly line environment and have yet to be developed into an industry-wide standard due to these reasons. Last year, Purdue University students partnered with Eaton to demonstrate the viability of a 5-finger robotic end-effector system, working harmoniously alongside human operators on assembly lines.
This project aims to expand the previous year's work by demonstrating the effectiveness of a two-handed, dexterous COBOT. The system will mimic human effectiveness and abilities for manual assembly, eliminating the need for extended programming lead times. Eaton's diverse range of processes will benefit from this flexible solution, as it will enable the company to both fully automate projects and deploy the COBOT to work alongside human operators. Eaton envisions leveraging this solution for both current and future applications to mitigate potential human hazards further and optimize speed and efficiency on the manufacturing line.
The objective is to integrate the Sarcomere Dynamics Artus Lite as the primary tooling for the UR10e robotic arm. The system will be programmed and controlled using HaptX gloves with external Vive motion tracking. This setup will be duplicated to create a mirrored configuration, enabling dual-hand operations with hand tools for the assembly of a breaker box.