In the world of robotics, we’ve often seen robots rely on their mechanical hands to pick up and manipulate objects. But that approach doesn’t quite capture the full essence of how humans interact with the world, especially when dealing with hefty items.
Enter Toyota’s groundbreaking creation: the Punyo soft robot. Unlike its traditional counterparts, Punyo takes inspiration from our own human behavior. Imagine a robot that doesn’t just use its hands but also incorporates its chest, hips, and arms to handle objects—just like we do.
Punyo’s design
Punyo features a cute and approachable face reminiscent of Disney’s Baymax from Big Hero 6. But there’s more: Punyo appears to be wearing a cozy-looking sweater, which serves a practical purpose—it’s highly hug-focused.
Credit: Toyota Research Institute
Credit: Toyota Research Institute
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The hug-focused sweater
The sweater-like covering is made from grippy materials that provide a squishy, compliant layer over Punyo’s hard metal skeleton. Embedded within the fabric are tactile sensors that allow Punyo to feel precisely what it’s hugging—whether it’s a person or an object.
Credit: Toyota Research Institute
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Punyo’s inflatable paws
Instead of traditional hands, Punyo has what Toyota calls “paws.” These aren’t your typical paws—they’re more like inflatable hooves. These paws have tiny dots printed on the inside. When the paw touches something, the dots distort, revealing the shape and force of contact. The clever camera captures this deformation, and the information is fed directly to the robot’s brain (visuomotor policies) to help it grasp objects effectively.
Credit: Toyota Research Institute
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Punyo’s softness in the arms
Punyo’s arms are arrays of air-filled bubbles, air tubes, and pressure sensors that extend from shoulder to wrist. These bubbles can be individually pressure-regulated, allowing for optimal stiffness based on the task at hand.
Training Punyo
Through teleoperation, Toyota Research Group roboticists have been training Punyo to handle various large objects. Some techniques include:
Credit: Toyota Research Institute
The lean and lift: Punyo leans forward, hugs items to its chest, and then leans back to lift them.
Heap it up: Punyo even has the ability to heap objects, making it versatile for different scenarios.
Creative carrying: Imagine slinging a water jug up onto Punyo’s shoulder, where it remains steady from above.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Punyo’s innovative design and emphasis on cuddling break new ground in soft robotics. Its gentle and precise grasp on large, awkward objects suggests exciting possibilities for robotic helpers in homes and other environments in the future.
Would you feel comfortable having a robot like Punyo in your home or at your workplace? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below.
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