“Max” the robot shows real muscle

Science imitates life in “Max”; an astonishingly humanoid new robot, which takes its engineering cues from the workings of the human body. Officially named ECCERobot-2, the robot, designed by the Consortium of Zurich, Belgrade, Sussex and Munich Universities and put together by The Robot Studio, is built around a unique flexible skeleton, covered with layers of mechanical tendons and "muscle".

These “muscles” mimic their human counterparts using a series elastic element, actuated by powerful servo motors, which wind or unwind a connecting tendon thus contracting or extending the muscle. Emulating the elasticity of natural muscles produces a "compliant robot" which is considered to be safer and more energy-efficient than present-day industrial robots.

Indeed, with no fewer than 80 maxon DC motors powering the robot’s various actuators, it’s perhaps unsurprising that ECCERobot-2’s designers have given it the nickname “Max”. The next generation, ECCERobot-3, will use 82 maxon motors and gears to power all of its "muscles".

The resulting mechanisms are claimed to be the closest robotics engineers have come to replicating human versatility.

However, creating a robot that can even start to approach human performance depends upon extremely precise motors offering very high torque in a limited space, and maxon motors were selected for the challenging task of keeping the elastic at exactly the right tension and to work against its natural pull.

In fact, the hardware builders, The Robot Studio, were so impressed with maxon motors that they are now technology and innovation partners with maxon.

maxon motor uk senior sales engineer Ian Bell says: “With its bone-like skeleton and mechanical muscles, the ECCERobot really does feel incredibly human.

“The fact that maxon brushed motors are at the heart of every single muscle on the robot just goes to show their incredible power and precision – and to name him ‘Max’ is really the icing on the cake!

“It’s another example of the way maxon motors’ unique capabilities are enabling design engineers all over the world to redefine what technology can achieve.”

Brushed dc motors like used to drive the innovation in ECCERobot-3 can be found in the online catalogue – or customised motors can be designed specifically for your application. For more information on the high temperature motors, contact maxon motor UK: email salesuk@maxonmotor.com, telephone 01189 733337.

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