The Humanoid and Human Centred Mechatronics (HHCM) Research Line is a leading research laboratory with strong expertise in robot design, modelling and control of new mechatronics components (actuation and sensing) for building the next generation of enhanced physical performance robots, effective interfaces and augmentation systems. The activity of the lab explores both the mechatronic technological limits, state of art design approaches (structural, actuation and transmission systems) combined with advancements in control including whole body loco-manipulation generation, balancing regulation and teleoperation control.
HHCM is the home laboratory of the humanoid platforms COMAN, WALK-MAN, COMAN+ and CENTAURO hybrid wheeled-legged quadrupedal platform. The lab also concentrates on the development of innovative wearable devices such as customized hand/arm Master systems for teleoperation control and augmentation technologies including wearable assistive devices for the human limbs.
The research activities of research line focus on the development of advanced robotic machines targeting to assist humans in operations executed in remote and hazardous environments or in more conventional industrial and warehouse workspaces. The development of such robotic systems necessitates significant advancements in robot design, actuation, software, control and interface components.
- In one direction our research concentrates on advancing the state of art of robotics mechatronics enabling the realization of robots (legged robots, humanoids, manipulation platforms and wearable devices) that can mirror the physical performance of the human body, demonstrating enhanced power and strength performance combined with physical resilience during challenging interactions.
- A second line of research is devoted to the realization of real time loco-manipulation planning, interaction control, software tools and interfaces aiming to endow the developed robotic platforms with enhanced motion and interaction adaptation skills.