MRLink Unit: Remote Robot Control via MR
Large industrial facilities have increasingly complex and sometimes dangerous processes for operators. Automation has managed to remove operators from these areas, but when it comes to checking and maintaining these processes, human intervention and exposure to risk is essential. In a paradigm where workplace accidents are only increasing, the need has arisen to use teleoperated robotic devices to carry out these inspection tasks in the most dangerous areas of industries. In this scenario of technological change in industry and a large number of accidents, MRLink Unit is presented with the aim of providing the industrial sector with a tool that allows the gestural remote control of quadruped robots in order to accelerate the digitisation and modernisation of the sector towards the new paradigm of Industry 4.0.
– Full project title: Remote control of a multi-operated humanoid quadruped robot using mixed reality
– Project file code: IDI-20220314 – EXP 00143060
– Project funding bodies: CDTI PID, Co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), A WAY TO MAKE EUROPE, through Spain’s multiregional operational programme 2014-20.
The optimisation of industrial processes today has led large manufacturing companies to create city-sized facilities that house both their own activities and the activities of their suppliers. A solution had to be found to protect employees from possible accidents in these infrastructures and to facilitate their tasks in remote or dangerous locations.
The process
The telecontrol tool uses augmented and virtual reality technologies to create new disruptive forms of human-machine interaction, allowing the Spot quadruped robot to teleoperate using mixed reality devices.
The solution is based on a robotics, AI and RM approach.
This has achieved objectives such as: simple and natural control, automation of the robot’s movements and dynamic routines, making Spot an active element in inspection tasks and optimising the connection between the robot and users of mixed reality glasses.
Development with Spot, Evergine, HoloLens 2 and Meta Quest.
Solution for the industrialisation of tools by remote control.
Results
- Control of quadruped robots by means of mixed reality systems.
- Real-time control.
- Object perception capability by means of AI.
- Advanced robot navigation.
- Visualisation of perceived information with first and third person view modes.
- Own user interface to visualise the data generated by the robot during operation.
We are ready for new challenges.
