In today’s automation landscape, robots are no longer merely static machines but have become partners capable of sharing space with workers. However, the transition from a controlled environment to a dynamic industrial plant demands a level of technical sophistication that goes far beyond the simple repetition of movements. The real challenge lies in physical adaptability and real-time response to a changing environment.
With this in mind, PAL Robotics is participating in the CENTAURO project, focusing on enhancing the versatility of the TIAGo Pro mobile manipulator. The team is developing advanced technologies in 3D vision, autonomous navigation and safe path planning to refine the robot’s usability in critical industrial tasks, such as polishing or logistics, thereby driving technological advancement and productivity in the country.
A new robotic arm for natural interaction
At the heart of the advances made at CENTAURO lies the comprehensive redesign of the TIAGo Pro’s robotic arm. The team has developed a new limb with 7 degrees of freedom that optimises the workspace, enabling the robot to reach angles and positions that were previously unattainable, thereby facilitating precision tasks in complex environments.
To ensure this structure is truly effective in shared environments, Serial Elastic Actuator (SEA) technology has been integrated. This advancement means the arm is not a rigid component, but a system capable of absorbing impacts and measuring contact forces.
Force control
One of the major milestones is the transition to sophisticated torque and admittance control. Instead of simply moving from point A to point B, the robot now ‘feels’ the pressure it exerts.
Intelligent navigation and advanced localisation
A mobile manipulator must not only be dexterous with its arms, but also move around with complete reliability. Over the past year, significant advances have been made in autonomous navigation and indoor localisation.
Visual programming: Robotics within everyone’s reach
One of the most notable advances is the improvement in the system’s usability. PAL Robotics has developed an intuitive visual programming interface within the WebGUI v3 ecosystem, designed to enable non-expert staff to configure complex tasks.
Using a ‘drag-and-drop’ system, any plant operator can design workflows by connecting visual blocks. This tool allows:
- Creating behavioural logic: Using colours and shapes to distinguish actions and prevent execution errors.
- Parallel and asynchronous execution: Seamlessly coordinating the movements of the robot’s arm and base.
- Reuse of skills: Encapsulating complex programmes for easy reuse.
This new architecture enables both engineers and factory staff to configure advanced behaviours in record time, drastically reducing the learning curve.
From theory to the production floor
The progress made in the CENTAURO project reinforces the role of mobile robotics as a pracGraogistics, we ensure that collaborative robots cease to be complex research platforms and become flexible, user-friendly assets capable of adapting to the real needs of industry.
- European Project
- Mobile Interaction
- TIAGo Pro
