The duo showcases adaptability and precision, excelling in advanced lab automation and performing intricate manipulation tasks.
AgileX Robotics has unveiled a new demonstration combining its robotics arm and hand to execute intricate manipulation tasks with smooth, human-like efficiency.
A new video released by the firm features its PiPER robotic arm and ultra-flexible, high-DoF Linkerbot Chius dexterous hand, highlighting the system’s ability to handle complex lab equipment with remarkable precision, showcasing its potential to enhance laboratory automation.
“This real-world demo perfectly showcases PiPER’s outstanding adaptability and accuracy in advanced lab automation and intricate manipulation tasks,” said the firm a the video description posted on YouTube.
Recently, USC Viterbi students developed the MOTIF Hand, a sensor-equipped robotic hand that senses force, temperature, and motion, enabling more intuitive, human-like interactions.
Automation with finesse
In a recent demonstration, the PiPER robotic arm, developed by AgileX Robotics, was paired with the highly dexterous Chius robotic hand, developed Chinese firm Lingxin Qiaoshou, to showcase its exceptional capabilities in complex laboratory tasks. The combined system demonstrated an impressive range of human-like actions with smooth, coordinated precision.
The demo began with the arm-hand duo skillfully handling a spoon, replicating natural human motion. It then transitioned to performing pipetting—a task requiring steady control and accuracy—demonstrating the system’s suitability for delicate, repetitive laboratory procedures.
The pair also executed bottle decapping and capping with remarkable dexterity, demanding precise force control to avoid damage or spillage. Additionally, the robotic system shook stoppered test tubes, illustrating its adaptability to various common lab workflows.
Through these tasks, the PiPER and Chius combination highlighted its strength in advanced lab automation, offering both adaptability and precision. According to AgileX Robotics, the performance underscores its potential to improve efficiency, safety, and consistency in scientific and industrial environments.
Dexterity meets precision
The PiPER from AgileX Robotics is a fast, lightweight robotic arm with six joints, built for smooth and accurate movement.
It weighs only 9.26 lbs (4.2 kg) but can lift up to 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) and reach about 24.6 inches (626 mm). It’s highly precise, with an accuracy of ±0.1 mm, making it ideal for careful, repetitive tasks. Made from a tough aluminum-alloy frame and a strong polymer shell, PiPER works reliably in many settings, even in extreme temperatures from –4 °F to 122 °F (–20 °C to 50 °C), reports Techeblog.
The built-in joint motors allow very smooth movements and smart path planning. One can control PiPER in several ways, such as by moving it by hand (drag-teaching), programming it offline, using Python, working from a computer, or integrating with ROS1 and ROS2. It uses a CAN connection for communication, and its tablet-based interface makes programming simple and user-friendly.
The Linkerbot Chius Hand is a series of advanced, dexterous robotic hands developed for research, industry, and rehabilitation. Designed to mimic human hand capabilities closely, these hands perform complex movements with high precision.
A key feature is force perception, enabling them to sense the amount of force applied during grasping, which allows for delicate handling of fragile objects and precise manipulation in intricate tasks. They also incorporate wireless master-slave communication, making control more seamless and responsive. The Chius Hands feature adaptive grasping, allowing them to easily handle objects of varying shapes, sizes, hardness, and weight
The Chius Hands feature adaptive grasping, allowing them to easily handle objects of varying shapes, sizes, hardness, and weight. Their advanced actuation systems deliver smooth, coordinated motion, with some models—such as the L20—offering an impressive 25 degrees of freedom for highly articulated movement. These capabilities make the Linkerbot Chius Hand ideal for applications ranging from scientific experiments to medical rehabilitation and industrial automation.
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