Soft joints for robots

The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) has developed intelligent soft joints for robots to make them more versatile, deformable and stable. The aim of this project, called SOFÍA, is to make robots more robust and improve the interaction between the machine and people. This invention by the UC3M RoboticsLab research group is characterised by the fact that it is made with a soft, highly deformable material which can be articulated by means of a thread that acts like tendons. These joints are more mobile and versatile than the rigid joints that are currently in use. "For example, accessing the inside of a pipe with a rigid robot is very difficult because it would get stuck. If we have a kind of "elastic worm", we could approach that inspection in a much safer, more flexible and more versatile way", says Concha Monje, lecturer in UC3M's Systems Engineering and Automation Department and lead researcher of the SOFÍA project. In addition, the research team has developed intelligent controllers based on artificial intelligence techniques, which allow these joints to be able to support different loads at their end while carrying out their tasks.