Humanoid robot "Oli" collects tennis balls completely autonomously
The humanoid robot LimX Oli can recognise and pick up tennis balls on its own. The robot decides for itself how it does this.
(Image: LimX Dynamics/Screenshot)
The Chinese robotics company LimX Dynamics has taught its humanoid robot Oli to systematically pick up tennis balls on a court. The robot acts completely autonomously, albeit somewhat slowly. Oli perceives its surroundings and derives actions from them independently.
LimX's humanoid robot Oli is 165 cm tall, weighs 55 kg, and has 31 degrees of freedom. Its actuators are designed so that it can also perform fine motorized tasks. The robot has a modular design and can be quickly dismantled and converted—depending on the task—so that it can be used for specialized work in laboratories or industry, for example.
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LimX combines high-precision sensors with robust motion algorithms in Oli. The legs alone each have six degrees of freedom. The arms support the body movement, which is further enhanced by a movable waist. This results in high agility of movement and enables fluid movement sequences. Oli can therefore imitate natural human-like movements, which helps him when picking up tennis balls. For example, he can bend his knees, adjust his posture depending on the position of the ball, and reach for balls in a targeted manner. He then places the balls in a collection basket.
Recognising the environment and taking action
A wide range of sensors, such as Intel RealSense D435i depth cameras and lidar, help him to recognise the balls in real time. They ensure spatial perception of the surroundings and enable object recognition. This allows Oli to reliably locate tennis balls even in unstructured environments. The robot itself determines the order in which the balls are collected. For example, it prioritizes which ball it picks up next depending on the distance to the balls and its current body position. It therefore interprets its environment and derives its actions from this independently.
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However, it is currently still very slow to collect the tennis balls. Apparently, it takes time to recognise the exact position of the ball. In addition, the robot must first orientate itself towards the ball to be able to pick it up precisely.
(olb)
