Want to buy a robot in 2020 ? Part 1

2020 Buyer’s Guide - Part 1 - for higher education (electrical engineering and computer science, engineering school, technical college, etc.) and researchers

PART 1 : Humanoid Robots and Robot Arms

Robotics can be used to teach programming, machine learning, human-robot interaction, mechatronics, machine vision, cognitive science and many other disciplines.

We have selected high performance and customizable robotic platforms for research labs. Some have been used by Génération Robots’ engineering department on their own projects, in different fields:

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Exploration and safety
• Manufacturing, SLAM

Are you looking for a humanoid robot for HRI applications or projects 

Research about HRI (human-robot interaction) is one of the most fascinating aspects of robotics. Autonomous navigation, face or voice recognition, as well as human-robot interaction, have largely improved over the last few years.

#1 Alpha Mini robot: research about AI

Alpha Mini comes with a SDK and several advanced features, that make possible the creation of AI and HRI applications:

• Behaviours sequence, interactions and preset animations
• Management of all 14 DoF
• Eyes animations management
• Face recognition (age or gender collection), face detection, learning curve and recognition
• Items recognition (predifined list)
• Phone call management (SIM chip not included)
• Voice management
• Connection to third-party services (e.g. DialogFlow chatbots)
• Photo shots

Find out more about the Alpha Mini programmable humanoid robot

#2 Poppy Humanoid and Poppy Torso

The Poppy robotic platform was designed by the INRIA South West laboratory. Its goal: develop the use of open-source robotics in education and training. 

Design, CAD, engineering, mechanics, Python programming… With Poppy, students have access to a complete technological environment for their tech projects.

Poppy comes in 3 versions:

• Poppy Humanoid, a humanoid robot with a morphology very similar to humans
• Poppy Torso, a Poppy Humanoid which legs have been replaced by a large suction cup (suited to HRI applications that require a robot that stay put)
• Poppy Ergo Junior, a small robotic arm designed to teach programming and robotics in high school

Find out more about the Poppy robotic platform

#3 Robot Cruzr for research

Designed by UBTECH Robotics, Cruzr is currently one of the most advanced humanoid service robot.

On top of an interesting range of functionalities, Cruzr features a HD screen, high performance cameras and microphones, allowing high-quality human-robot interactions.

• Android OS
• 8 hours battery life
• Face and voice recognition
• Autonomous self-charging functionality
• E-Skin technology, Cruzr stops moving if a human touches its arm
• Cruzr is one of the few humanoid robots able to navigate to different points of interest, using SLAM technology.

Find out more about Cruzr robot for research

I need a robot arm to teach automation in the industry sector

Thanks to robot arms, students can work on manipulation, vision, and get ready to work in the industry 4.0.

#1 Niryo One robot arm

Niryo One is a 6-axis robot arm designed specially to learn programming and robotics. It is powered by Arduino and Raspberry Pi, and is ROS and Matlab compatible. This robot arm is a complete platform for students (both beginners and advanced):

• Intuitive programming interface
• Supports Python, C++, Blockly languages
• Powered by Raspberry Pi and Arduino
• Interchangeable Grippers

Find out more about Niryo One robot arm

#2 Panda robotic arm

Panda, a robot manufactured by FRANKA EMIKA, is a 7-axis robot arm, which is quick to set up and to master. Panda supports C++, ROS integration, which provides an interface to third party sensors (libraries and packages for C++, ROS and MoveIt are available online). 

The Panda robot gripper (see Accessories) can exert a continuous gasping force of 70 N (and a maximum force of 140 N) and can lift up to 3 kg. The maximum width of the open gripper is 80 mm. Which allows this FRANKA EMIKA robotic arm to lift a wide variety of objects. 

The Inria Rennes research center chose it for its ViSP project, as part of a visual servoing SDK. The Panda robotic arm is also part of the Imperial College London university robots fleet, available to students who wish to integrate it to their robotic projects.

Find out more about Panda robot arm

#3 Baxter with SDK for education

Baxter is a robot designed with 2 arms, that each feature 7 DoF. Baxter is a collaborative robot, but its manufacturer Rethink Robotics also released a research and education version, with a ROS SDK. This version of Baxter allows researchers and students alike to develop many robotic applications. 

They will be able to work in fields like machine learning, human-robot interaction, mechatronics and grasping, machine vision and manufacturing skills. With Baxter, students can develop programs with a real-life purpose, and get familiar with the industry 4.0 challenges.

Find out more about Baxter with SDK for education

Part 2: Mobile Robots & Electronic Components

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/buyers-guide-2020-robotics-higher-education-labs-part-nicolas-piot