The Human-Centred Technologies and Machine Intelligence Laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art human-centred technological devices that can be applied in various research activities and projects.

Franka Emika Panda Robot

The Franka Emika Panda Robot is a plug-and-use piece of technology aimed to serve the cutting edge robotics research with its physical interaction features and powerful control interfaces. This robot is designed to be highly versatile and adaptable, making it an ideal tool for a wide range of applications where it can be used to perform tasks with precision and speed. The Panda robot is equipped with seven joints, which allows it to move in a wide range of directions and enable it to easily perform complex tasks, making it an invaluable asset in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and research. The Franka Emika Panda Robot has a number of user-friendly interaction interfaces, which is one of its most remarkable features. It can be programmed using App building blocks or even used as a research study platform. Furthermore, its ability to work alongside humans safely has made it a popular choice among automotive manufacturing, electronics assembly, and medical device manufacturers who are looking to increase efficiency while maintaining safety standards. Additionally, the Panda robot is empowering small businesses and startups to great extents due to its compact design, light weight and possibility to be installed in a small space. The Panda robot can indeed serve purpose to various industries and can help improve efficiency and productivity.

TIAGo++

TIAGo++ is a human-like bimanual mobile robot designed for research in indoor environments. It consists of a differential mobile base, a lifting torso, two 7 DoF arms (plus the respective grippers), and a 2 DoF (pan-tilt) head. It also counts on an RGB-D camera in its head, a laser rangefinder in its base front, three rear sonars, IMUs, stereo microphones, speakers and motor current and force/torque sensors, allowing the robot to interact with humans and with the environment in many different ways. The onboard computer is fully programmable and runs Ubuntu and ROS, giving access to the user to many tools and libraries publicly available developed by the community, as well as to a number of tools developed by the manufacturer, PAL Robotics (e.g., whole body control). These libraries and packages include, among others, functionalities related to perception, navigation, manipulation, human-robot interaction, AI and motion planning. The robot also counts on a URDF model than can be used in different simulators in order to test the system in a safe environment, and on a set of online tutorials on how to get started and make use of the different functionalities of the robot together with ROS. Since it relies on ROS, the robot can be directly programmed in C++, Python and Lisp, and wrappers to libraries in other languages can be also built.

Vicon NEXUS

Depending on the factors of interest throughout the data collecting process, biomechanical studies can be carried out utilizing a single device or a variety of them. The objective of the research and the questions that must be answered will determine the sort of equipment employed. Researchers in biomechanics frequently employ three-dimensional (3D) movement analysis to measure movement during gait analysis, sport performance, or equipment design, to mention a few.

Standard or high-speed video cameras or specifically created cameras that can follow marker trajectories in three dimensions can both be used for three-dimensional movement analysis (i.e. passive opto-reflective or active motion capture systems). Two cameras are required at the very least to analyze motions in three dimensions, but more cameras are advised to increase your motion capture volume.

Vicon hardware, along with Nexus motion capture software, provides a comprehensive biomechanical means to capture 3D motion data. In combination with various peripheral devices that are frequently employed in sophisticated human motion research, the hardware enables data to be gathered (e.g. EMG, force plates). These auxiliary devices may be combined with and gathered simultaneously with 3D motion data using the software’s user-friendly interface.

Quanser Coupled Tanks System

The coupled tanks system produced by Quanser, is a type of process control system consisting of two cylindrical tanks and a pump that is designed to provide students and researchers with a benchmark platform for studying control theory and industrial process control. The tanks are arranged vertically, with one tank placed on top of the other whereas the pump fills only the top one. The water then pours from the upper tank to the lower one and from the lower tank to a basin where it pumps again to the upper tank.

Since there are two coupled tanks available in the Lab, it is possible to connect the outlet of upper tanks to each system’s lower tank to form a new system with four tanks named quadruped tank. In this way the complexity and coupling of the system can be increased.

The system can be used to study a wide range of control theory concepts, such as feedback control, feedforward control, cascade control, multivariable control, and model predictive control. Students can design and implement their own control algorithms and observe the system’s response to different inputs and disturbances using Simulink/MATLAB. The system can also be used to simulate various industrial processes, such as chemical reactions, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics.

Husarion ROSbot 2 PRO

ROSbot 2.0 PRO is an autonomous and open-source robot platform produced by Husarion which is running on CORE2-ROS controller. It can be used as a learning platform for Robot Operating System (ROS) by applying different path planning algorithms as well as a base for inspection robots, custom service robots etc. The hardware components included with the ROSbot 2.0 PRO make it a commonly chosen platform for developing advanced robotics applications. These hardware features include:

  • Intel® ATOM™ x5-Z8350 Processors (x64 architecture) with a speed of up to 1.92GHz, 4GB DDR3L RAM, and 32GB eMMC storage.
  • RPLIDAR A3 laser scanner: capable of providing 360-degree coverage, allowing for precise mapping and localization of the robot’s position in any environment.
  • RGBD camera: Orbbec Astra, with a resolution of 640×480 for both RGB and depth images.
  • DC motor: Xinhe Motor XH-25D, using an RF-370 motor with a 6VDC nominal voltage and 5000rpm.
  • Li-Ion 18650 protected, rechargeable batteries with a capacity of 3500mAh and 3.7V nominal voltage.
  • Antenna directly connected to the Asus Tinker Board Wi-Fi module.

The Rosbot2 Pro’s software is based on the widely used Robot Operating System (ROS), which provides developers with a comprehensive framework for building complex robotic systems. ROS makes it easy to integrate a wide range of sensors, actuators, and software libraries, providing a scalable and flexible solution for developers.

ETVision Eye Tracker System

The ETVision eye tracker system from Argus Science is a versatile tool for researchers who need high-quality, precise, and reliable eye tracking data. With its ease of use and mobility, this system can be used for a wide range of research applications in psychology, neuroscience, marketing, and more. One of the key advantages of this system is its ease of use and mobility, as it can be used both indoors and outdoors, and can be worn by participants with uncorrected vision, prescription glasses, or contacts. The ETVision system is designed to capture data in multiple ways, and over longer periods of time. This makes it ideal for research applications such as studying reading behavior, visual perception, attention, and more. The system’s intuitive interface allows for single-point or multiple-point calibration, making it easy to set up and use even for those who are new to eye tracking technology.

Data collected by the ETVision system can be sent to a laptop PC via WiFi or LAN, or can be captured locally on a microSD card. This flexibility allows for seamless integration with a wide range of research environments and setups. In addition, the system’s battery power allows for recording times of well over 5 hours, making it possible to collect data for extended periods of time without the need for frequent battery replacements. The key features of this device includes:

  • Precise, binocular eye measurement at 180Hz
  • Automatic vergence correction for accuracy at any distance
  • Pupil diameter and eyelid position measurement
  • Can be used by participants wearing their own prescription glasses
  • Supports real-time object tracking
  • Left Eye, Right Eye, and Scene images displayed in GUI with constant real-time feedback
  • Supports synchronous video recording from external Stationary Scene Camera
  • Supports integration with motion capture devices (ET3Space)
  • Real-time network communication with external devices

Biosignals Amplifier