At the World Robot Conference, in addition to the World Robot Expo where humanoid robots "get together", the World Robot Competition is also wonderful. This year's competition added a space robot competition, and the reporter noticed that the results of the space robot competition and the BCI brain-controlled robot competition attracted the attention of the audience.

Space repair robots can 3D print parts

As the "Olympics" of the robotics industry, this year's 2024 World Robot Competition includes four major events: the Inclusive Robot Challenge, the BCI Brain-Controlled Robot Competition, the Space Robot Competition, and the Youth Robot Design Competition.

In the exhibition area of the results of the first Space Robot Competition, the team of Hunan University brought two prototypes of robot technology to the 2024 World Robot Conference Exhibition, namely the Hugging Robot and the Space Maintenance Robot.

The Hug Robot is an emotional support robot designed specifically for astronauts who live long periods of time on the space station. Yang Qihang, from Hunan University's School of Design and Art, said that astronauts face enormous psychological stress in a closed environment, and the robot can provide emotional comfort by simulating the feeling of a human hug. "We use specific materials such as airbags and silicone to mimic the sensation of human breathing." "At the same time, the robot can also change the color and inflation frequency through the voice control module to adapt to the astronauts' emotional changes. ”

Although the Hug Robot is still in the technology prototype stage and has not yet been able to provide a complete interactive experience, its lightness and compressibility make it ideal for use in the space environment without taking up too much space or adding extra weight. The design of this soft robot opens up a new direction for emotional support equipment in future space missions.

Another prototype of the technology on display was a repair robot for internal maintenance of the space station. The robot is able to move freely in orbit within the space station, detecting and repairing or replacing damaged parts. In addition, the robot is also capable of 3D printing, which can print out the required parts for replacement if necessary.

"Although this is only a conceptual model, it shows the infinite possibilities of future robotics in terms of space station maintenance support." The project team members say they hope to translate these concepts into practical technical solutions through further research and development.

Mind typing and controlling drones

In the BCI Brain-Controlled Robot Competition Achievement Exhibition Area, many spectators lined up to experience the latest technology of brain-controlled robots - without moving their fingers, they can type out numbers on the screen with only their brains and eyes.

The staff of Bright Kang Technology (Changzhou) Co., Ltd. demonstrated this innovative technology to the audience. "We used the difference in the frequency of the flashing of different numbers to activate different areas of the brain to form brain waves through visual stimulation, and then converted the brain waves into data, and the system was able to accurately identify the number the user wanted to choose," they explained, pointing to the flashing numbers on the display. "The staff said that the application of this technology is far more than typing, and will be widely used in the control of wheelchairs, drones, robotic arms and other equipment in the future." Each number is equivalent to an instruction, and if you want the device to perform any action, you only need to convert the corresponding number into the corresponding instruction. ”

Shandong Zhongke Advanced Technology Co., Ltd. is also showcasing the latest research and development results - brain-controlled drones. In the past two years, the company has not only achieved the localization of most of its product accessories, but also developed a stable analysis system independently.

"When you put on a special hat and generate brain waves, we collect those signals and convert them into data," the staff explains, "and the data is wirelessly transmitted to the analytics system to enable precise control of the drone." He said researchers are working on applying the technology to a wider range of areas, such as helping people with limited mobility to control assistive devices such as exoskeletons through their minds.

In addition, the Institute of Medical Engineering of Xi'an Jiaotong University showcased the brain-controlled robot dog technology jointly developed by them and the company. The technology integrates brain-computer interface, visual follow-up and text interaction. "We control the movements of the robot dog by collecting the user's brainwave data, and the robot dog can also identify specific individuals through the camera and follow them." said the project leader.

During the demonstration, an experiencer wore an EEG cap and VR glasses and directed the robot dog to complete a series of actions through EEG signals. "We hope to show the possibilities of human-computer interaction in the future with this technology," said the project leader, "and the robot dog can not only be used for rehabilitation training, but also as a companion robot for the elderly, helping with health monitoring and help in emergency situations." ”

Exoskeleton robots help patients achieve autonomous movements

The neuroengineering team at Tianjin University showcased their brain-controlled exoskeleton machine, which is mainly used for lower limb rehabilitation. The technician explained that the EEG signals are extracted through brain waves, which can drive the exoskeleton to help the patient walk. What's more, the device also continuously applies electrical current to stimulate the muscles and nervous system while the patient walks, helping the patient repair reversible damaged nerves and muscles. At present, the technology has entered the clinical trial stage. "After the equipment officially enters the market, it is expected to be sold at a price of more than 100,000 yuan, which can be affordable for hospitals and patients."

In addition, Nintong Intelligence also displayed an upper limb medical rehabilitation training instrument. The instrument collects the user's EEG signals and converts them into control instructions for the exoskeleton robot to help the patient achieve autonomous movement. Compared to traditional upper limb rehabilitation machines, this approach is more proactive, allowing the patient to participate in the rehabilitation process, forming a complete feedback loop that helps repair damaged brain areas. At present, this device has been clinically tested in more than 200 hospitals, and has completed phase III clinical testing, and is expected to obtain the registration certificate of Class III medical devices by the end of this year or early next year and officially launch it to the market.

Beijing News reporter Zhang Lu intern Jiang Yangtao

Edited by Tang Zheng and proofread by Zhao Lin