Modeling the movement of robots that combine soft and rigid components is being explored as a potential tool for agriculture, particularly in fruit harvesting under orchard and greenhouse conditions, EastFruit reports.
Rigid robots are known for strength, while soft robots offer flexibility. A team at Khalifa University, led by engineers Anup Teejo Mathew and Federico Renda, has developed a model that combines both qualities in hybrid robots. The approach aims to provide sufficient power while maintaining delicacy in handling fruit.
One of the main challenges has been predicting the movement of hybrid robots. Traditional algorithms were effective for rigid structures but were unable to account for the many ways soft components bend and twist. The new mathematical model allows precise simulation and real-time control of hybrid machines.
A key aspect of the development is the use of a minimal number of parameters to describe robot actions. This reduces the complexity of analysis and enables faster, more accurate simulations compared to previous methods. The model has been tested on different robotic structures, including an "octopus arm" capable of grasping objects gently and underwater devices with flexible flagella.
In horticulture and vegetable production, the technology could allow hybrid robots to harvest fruit without causing damage and to operate effectively in complex environments such as tree canopies, uneven plantations, or inside greenhouses.
The researchers stressed that efficient simulation provides the foundation for planning, control, and training of robots, and supports the development of artificial intelligence for such applications. Beyond agriculture, potential uses are foreseen in medicine, underwater operations, and search and rescue, but fruit harvesting remains one of the areas where precise yet delicate robotic movements are required.
Source: EastFruit