New variable impedance actuators for the next generation of robots.

New: pdfs presentations online

During the past 50 years the assertion of most robotic designers concerning actuation was: “the stiffer the better”. This assertion holds true for standard industrial robotic applications which require accurate, reference-trajectory tracking. For the next 50 years a whole new generation of robots will be used in daily society of which the fundaments are developed today. For the advancement of these new robots, compliant, safe, and new actuators are one of the important issues turning energy efficiently into safe motion. This workshop will deal about the latest developments in variable impedance actuators and their control strategies in robotic applications in the field of manipulation, locomotion and rehabilitation. In the field of manipulation variable impedance actuators can be used to make the robots more robust, safe, and performant in terms of peak torque and speed. For legged robots and prosthesis the new actuators are used to make the locomotion more energy efficient and in rehabilitation the soft actuators are used to better fit a human.

After a successfull VIA workshop at RSS2008 in Zurich, we invite you to participate to the full-day workshop on Monday May 3, 2010 which will focus on a discussion on the design and control of variable impedance actuators in robotic applications in the field of manipulation, locomotion and rehabilitation. Also the physical and biological principles will be discussed.

Topics for contributions include but are not limited to:


We hope to see you in Alaska!

The organizers,
Alin Albu-Schaeffer, Antonio Bicchi and Bram Vanderborght