New robotic technology is being developed at MIT that is focused around the integration of VR with robotic applications. In a recent article entitled 'MIT’s remote control robot system puts VR to work' the latest research and developments in these new and exciting fields are discussed.

MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) has come up with a use for virtual reality headsets that goes beyond firing them up, checking out a new game, muttering “cool” briefly after 5 minutes of use and then putting them back in the closet: Controlling robots remotely for manufacturing jobs.

The CSAIL research project combines two things with questionable utility into one with real potential, marrying telepresence robotics and VR with manufacturing positions. The system gives the operator a number of ‘sensor displays’ to make it feel like they’re right inside the robot’s head on site, and even employed hand controllers to provide direct control over the robot’s grippers.

According to the article the VR system has the potential to be adapted to manufacturing jobs. Some tasks could be completed remotely by human operators via VR commands.

Sensor displays give a human operator a feeling of being inside the robot and controllers can allow human hands to operate the robotic grippers in compatibile robots.

If this doesn't sound like the future, what does?

Techblogger Wrap Up

In an age where robotics are increasingly used instead of human labor some jobs require skilled labor but could be further assisted by robotic assets. The integration of VR and robotics may allow robots to improve processes in some applications. What types of tasks do you imagine a human/robot hybrid system would have an advantage over one or the other?

Please leave thoughts and feedback below.

Thanks for reading!

Source:
MIT’s remote control robot system puts VR to work - TechCrunch