What you’ll learn:
- Why the Mirokaï robot is unique.
- Where Mirokaï might be used.
- About Mirokaï’s facial interaction.
Enchanted Tools improved its Mirokaï with a more robust platform (watch the video above). The robot is balanced atop a ball with a protected cage, enabling it to move in any direction (Fig. 1).
This user-friendly cobot is designed to operate in close proximity to people. Applications include tasks such as being a store assistant or concierge interacting with people verbally.
Mirokaï stands about 115 cm (Fig. 2). It has 28 degrees of freedom (DoF) incorporating two color/infrared cameras, a dozen time-of-flight (ToF) cameras, six ultrasound range sensors, and three inertial measurement units (IMUs). One IMU is in each hand along with one for the body. There’s also a six-axis torque sensor.
The robot’s battery lasts about eight hours. Mirokaï doesn’t use a lot of energy when standing still, and the cage around the ball lets it remain upright if power is lost. It weighs about 30 kg and has a maximum speed of 3.2 km/h. The two NVIDIA Jetson modules work with the Robot Operating System (ROS) running Enchanted Tools software.
The articulated arms and hands with opposable thumbs allow for the robot to manipulate objects. The hand is designed to work with handles with a solid grip. These handles can be attached to useful items such as trays or boxes so that Mirokaï can manipulate and transport these items with a high level of confidence.
Putting a Face on Robotics
Mirokaï’s face is a projection system. It enables the software to easily adjust what someone sees, although things like eyes are just images. This approach provides a flexible interface that’s easy to adjust via software with minimal power requirements. Image data acquisition is done using a 3D camera mounted above the faceplate. Audio output is via a speaker mounted in the chest.
The ears are movable and provide an additional visual feedback mechanism. This is more in line with the cobot’s operation in user interface applications, where it’s trying to be friendly and supportive.
The platform is programmable at the system level, but an “If This Then That” programming interface is designed for those without programming expertise. It can be used to create an engaging interaction with people taking advantage of the underlying artificial-intelligence (AI) support.
