Table of Contents
- BONSYSTEMS · CYCLOIDAL TECHNOLOGY
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- References
- Bonsystems
- 🔗 Get industry insights → www.bonsystems.com
A human-form robot is a robot designed to have a form and movement similar to a human. It is also commonly called a humanoid robot, and it aims to move in spaces where people are active using its arms, legs, torso, wrists, and joint structure.
The reason human robots draw attention is not simply that they resemble humans. The key is that they can be fitted more naturally to the spaces, tools, and work methods that people use.
Today, most spaces are made to human standards. The height of door handles, the width of stairs, the height of desks, the width of passageways, the position of switches and buttons, and even the handles of tools are all designed based on the human body structure and way of moving. If a robot can move and work in such environments without separate modification, it gains the advantage of being able to use existing spaces as they are.
For this reason, human robots are being reviewed in various environments such as factories, logistics, services, research facilities, and homes.
This article looks at the reasons for developing human robots from the perspectives of environmental adaptability, tool compatibility, interaction with people, application scalability, and the connection to the robot component industry.
Adaptability to Human-Centered Environments
Key Summary One of the biggest reasons for developing human robots is that they are easy to adapt to the spaces where people live and work. Being able to use robots without greatly changing existing spaces can reduce the burden of adoption.
The reason human robots chose a form similar to a human is adaptability to existing environments. Factories, offices, homes, and city infrastructure are mostly made based on a person’s height, arm length, way of walking, and hand movement. People climb stairs, open doors, grasp handles, handle objects on desks, and pass through narrow passageways. These environments are often designed from the start on the premise of a person’s physical conditions.
If a robot’s form were entirely different from a human’s, the space might have to be newly changed or dedicated equipment added so that the robot can move. Conversely, a human-form robot can be fitted more easily to environments people use, because it becomes more likely to use already-built environments as they are, such as doors, stairs, passageways, workbenches, and tool storage locations.
This is especially important at industrial sites. If a space must be greatly changed each time automation equipment is introduced, time and cost increase. A human-form robot can be reviewed in a direction that assists or replaces part of a person’s role while keeping the existing environment as much as possible. In the end, the human form is not a simple choice of profile but a design direction for entering human-made environments more easily.
Compatibility with Tools People Use
Key Summary A human-form robot aims for a structure that makes it easy to use existing tools designed for people, so it can connect with existing work environments without making new dedicated equipment each time.
Another reason for developing human robots is tool compatibility. Switches, handles, keyboards, buttons, tools, carrying devices, and equipment on workbenches are mostly made for people to use easily. Many tools are designed based on the actions of grasping, pressing, pulling, and turning by hand.
A human-form robot aims for a structure that makes it easy to use these existing tools. When a robot has an arm structure and hand movements similar to a human’s, it becomes more likely to connect with existing work environments without making new dedicated equipment each time. For example, pressing a button, grasping a handle, or handling an object on a workbench are representative tasks made based on human actions.
Tool compatibility is also connected to the scalability of robot adoption. If both the environment and tools must be newly designed for a specific robot, the application range can be limited. By contrast, because a human-form robot is developed in a direction that uses existing tools and interfaces, it can broaden the possibility of being applied to various work sites.
Natural Interaction with People
Key Summary In environments where people are present together, it matters whether a person can understand and predict the robot’s movement, not just that the robot performs tasks well. A human-form robot makes it relatively easy to grasp the robot’s intent.
In environments where people are present together, such as factories, logistics centers, service spaces, and research facilities, it matters whether a person can understand and predict the robot’s movement, not just whether the robot performs tasks well.
The movement of a robot with a form entirely different from a human’s can be hard to understand intuitively. By contrast, because a human-form robot’s actions of reaching out an arm, turning its head, and changing the direction of its body are similar to human movement, a user can grasp the robot’s intent relatively easily. This characteristic can be an important advantage in collaboration or service environments.
Especially a robot that works at a close distance to people must be accepted naturally within the work flow. Because a human-form robot is developed in a direction that has a height, posture, and range of motion similar to a person’s, it can help reduce unfamiliarity in the process of a worker or user interacting with the robot.
The Possibility of Expanding into Various Applications
Key Summary A human-form robot aims for the possibility of responding to many tasks with a single form. When environmental adaptability and tool compatibility combine, the possibility of expanding into various fields grows.
One of the reasons human robots draw attention is application potential. Existing automation equipment was often designed for a specific task. For example, one piece of equipment is developed for assembly, another for transport, and yet another for inspection. This approach is efficient for a specific task, but new equipment may be needed if the environment or task changes.
A human-form robot aims for the possibility of responding to several tasks with a single form. If it can enter spaces people use, handle tools people use, and move within the same work flow as people, a single robot platform can be used in many fields. Of course, this does not mean a single robot completely replaces all tasks. Still, industrial interest is growing in that it can broaden the application range to suit various environments.
This possibility is an important reason that explains the development direction of human robots. Behind the review of human robots in various fields, such as factory automation, logistics assistance, research equipment operation, service assistance, and hazardous-work support, lies the expectation that they can respond to many tasks while using existing environments and tools.
The Importance of the Robot Component Industry
Key Summary Realizing a human-form robot requires that many joints and drive units be stably arranged within a confined profile. In this process, the role of robot components such as reducers and actuators becomes important.
The form of a human-form robot is also deeply connected to the robot component industry. To create a profile similar to a human, joints must go into many areas such as the arms, legs, torso, wrists, and ankles. Each joint must produce force, generate movement, and stably perform repeated motion within a set space. What is needed here are drive components such as reducers and actuators.
A human-form robot has limited space in its profile. If the arms or legs become excessively large, it is hard to maintain a form similar to a human, and constraints can arise in moving in actual environments. The drive unit must therefore be configured as compactly as possible while realizing the needed force and stable operation. From this standpoint, the structural design of the reducer and actuator matters.
The Bonsystems BSR and BCSA are lineups that can connect with these robot joint drive units. The BSR is a component-level lineup based on cycloidal reducers, and the BCSA is a drive solution that integrates cycloidal-reducer-based technology in an actuator form. The BCSA in particular is designed to be applied to robot joints and automation equipment by combining a frameless motor and reducer in a thin, compact structure.
In addition, through a Pinless structure, Bonsystems reduces some of the coupling elements once needed in conventional pin configurations and aims to configure the reducer’s internal structure more simply. When the component composition becomes simpler, it becomes easier to design the drive unit within a confined space, and it can help reduce the structural burden in terms of assembly and maintenance. These characteristics connect naturally with systems where many joints must move together within a narrow profile, as in human robots.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. What is the biggest reason for developing human robots?
A. It is that they can adapt more easily to the spaces and tools people use. Being able to use existing environments without greatly changing them can reduce the burden of adoption and raise the possibility of expanding into various fields.
Q2. Why is this form of robot advantageous for adapting to existing environments?
A. Factories, offices, homes, and city spaces are mostly made based on the human body structure and movement. Because a human-form robot aims for a form similar to a human, it is easy to apply to existing environments such as stairs, doors, passageways, and workbenches.
Q3. What does tool compatibility mean?
A. It means the possibility that a robot can use the handles, buttons, tools, and workbenches that people use. Being able to use tools and equipment made based on human actions can reduce the burden of having to separately design new dedicated equipment.
Q4. In which fields can a humanoid be used?
A. It can be reviewed in various fields such as factories, logistics, services, research facilities, and hazardous-work support. In that it can use spaces and tools made to human standards, there is potential to broaden the application range.
Q5. Why are reducers and actuators important in human robots?
A. To realize human-like movement, many joints such as the arms, legs, wrists, and ankles must move stably. Reducers and actuators are the core drive components that generate the movement of these joints. The drive unit’s size, power transmission, ease of mounting, and stable operation must be considered together for the robot’s overall movement to be realized naturally.
References
• [1] Bonsystems Official Website — https://www.bonsystems.com
• [2] International Federation of Robotics (IFR) — https://ifr.org
• [3] Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement (KIRIA) — https://www.kiria.org
• [4] Korea Institute of Robotics & Technology Convergence (KIRO) — https://www.kiro.re.kr
