Will following robots become the next big trend for industry?

The annual RoboBusiness Robotics Conference, which will be held in Boston this week, will showcase a variety of advanced robotics products. The network edition of the Technology media, Wired magazine, has made a vision of the robots that will be unveiled at this conference, and it is believed that following robots will become the next big trend for robotic development. The following is the main content of the article. In the world of robots and drones, a trend that is growing steadily is to follow the user's permission, a trend that is interesting, such as using drones with GoPro cameras to shoot self-portraits, not only for fun, but also for helicopters and crews, Cost much cheaper. The following patterns in the Iris+ UAV and Droidplanner 2.0 software, launched by 3D Robotics, can be achieved, as are the hexo+ and AirDog two vehicles. Iris+ and hexo+ are able to connect to the user's smartphone and then navigate according to its GPS data, while AirDog requires the user to wear a wireless module called Airleash for normal use. In addition to the drones, there are now more and more land-based robots that have been able to follow the lead, such as the Caddytrek-powered golf boy who has already replaced part of the workforce, so the robots that can run around with your shadow are already on the horizon. Robots with following functions also have a wider range of users. For example, the Budgee robot, launched by Hep Elements Robotics, is a lightweight power-assisted robot specifically for the elderly and the disabled, Budgee's maximum speed is about 3.9 kilometers per hour, if the owner of the travel speed is too fast, it will use the message to push the way to remind the host slow. The user can also set the color of its two eyes of varying sizes, the idea came from my daughter's sock puppet, said Hep Elements's CEO, Windy Roberts. function, Budgee can easily fold up, its weight is only about 9 kilograms, but can take Jong 23 kg of things. At the same time, the budgee charge can last 10 hours. In addition, although the budgee used waterproof design, but it is not with the owner down into the pool, its built-in sensors can effectively prevent it from falling down the stairs and in the face of obstacles fall. The Budgee's following function is achieved by a sonar sensor embedded in the ear, while in normal working, the owner needs to place a small module on his belt and then set the Budgee's following distance in the corresponding mobile application. According to Roberts, the company is currently developing a joystick interface to facilitate the use of wheelchair users for BudgeeFor control. It is also understood that Budgee will be listed next January, the price of 1400 U.S. dollars (about 8573 yuan). Industrial robots developed by Harvest Don, a start-up company based in Massachusetts, where the Sower is based, have more sophisticated tracking systems, mainly for agricultural and manufacturing users, whose nursery robot HV-100 (nicknamed Harvey) has now been put into use. According to the company's co-founder and COO Charles Grinnell (Charles Grinnell), HV-100 Nursery robots are equipped with multiple sensors to perform a variety of plant processing tasks, such as processing spacing, integration and collection, etc. One of these sensors, called LIDAR, not only helps it avoid obstacles accurately, but also enables tracking of users, the cost of which is between 2000 and 3000 dollars, which is the main reason why HV-100 is expensive (about $30,000). We use LiDAR to implement tracking patterns and use the sensor to perform more complex and accurate probe tasks, Grinnell said, "Our robots need to be able to accurately position the plants in their customers ' fields while also achieving long distance measurements, and lidar, in addition to meeting these requirements, It is also able to implement 24x7 operations, so it is very suitable for us. It is understood that lidar use of the sensor technology used laser scanning to the front of the object 3D detection, so when it successfully followed the user, generally will be stable operation, tightly follow the user to carry out the operation. Of course, if an emergency needs to stop following, the user simply pulls down the orange lever at the top of the robot to turn it off. According to Grinnell's introduction, HV-100 's follow pattern also has a very practical use method, is according to the actual operation need to realize many machine person to follow continuously, so only then one manual can control the entire robot team, lets it complete the same movement, but does not need to have the individual control to the robot, This will undoubtedly greatly improve operational efficiency. In addition, Harvest Don is also developing a new type of robot for warehouses and factories, the robot is still in prototype stage, in order to reduce manufacturing costs, the company abandoned led sensors in the robot, and only the use of LIDAR sensors, Grinnell says LiDAR has been fully able to meet the needs of factory-type robots. Robot Budgee and HV-100 and their related technologies will be exhibited at this week's 10th session of the RoboBusiness Robotics Conference with more than 80 other companies ' robotics products, and the current cost of robotics has been reduced and progress has been improved. In the past 3 years, participants in the ROBOBUSINESS Robotics Conference have been briefed by Trends Media Group President Richie Elber (Rich Erb), robotics of the conference organizersHas grown 3 times-fold, with only 300 participants in 2011, and 1000 participants from 22 countries have registered this year. It is also understood that this RoboBusiness robot Assembly will be held at the Hynes Conference Center in Boston from October 15 to 17th local time, and only registered users can enter the venue and not be open to public users. Translator: Xiao Kai