CORIM: Collaborative Robots for Impact-Based Manipulation (ERC PoC Grant)

The CORIM project aims to introduce a technology that has the potential to significantly expand the application area of collaborative robots (cobots) in the manufacturing sector. Today’s collaborative robots have limited ability to handle tasks that require rapid contact transitions with stiff environments, since the force peaks emerging from the contact transition endanger key elements such as gears and force sensors in the collaborative robots. Based on findings of the ERC project NatDyReL, we will develop a solution for these applications, which is based on two main components: a method for analysis and planning fast contact transitions, and an end effector for contact tasks. In connection with the motion planning, which takes the impact models and the inertial couplings into account, this end-effector allows to protect the robot wrist from the impulsive contact forces. Building on this core idea, CORIM enable a conventional collaborative robot to perform physically demanding harsh applications such as hammering, denting, and punching. The CORIM concept will allow to significantly broaden the application area of cobots in the manufacturing industry. In addition to the technical feasibility study, we will perform a business feasibility study as a preparation of further commercialization steps.

Funding

Consolidator Research Grant of the European Research Council (ERC).