High Performance Cobotics

Abstract

Cobots are a class of robots that use continuously variable transmissions to develop high fidelity programmable constraint surfaces. Cobots consume very little electrical power even when providing high output forces, and their transmissions are highly efficient across a broad range of transmission ratios. Cobotic transmissions also have the ability to act either as a brake or to become entirely free. The design and performance of the cobotic hand controller, a recently developed six-degree-of-freedom haptic display, is reviewed. This device illustrates the high dynamic range and low power consumption achievable by cobots. A thorough comparison of the power efficiency of a cobotic system versus a conventional electro-mechanical system is provided.