German researchers have developed a system of airbags to protect people working with robots from injury. The scientists from the DLR Robotics and Mechatronics Centre came up with the idea in 2016, and have now released a video explaining the system. If something goes wrong with a robot and it confuses a squishy human body with open air, the result might not just be delayed production, but broken bones and torn flesh. The airbag inflates automatically around sharp edges when the manipulator arm moves, before deflating to allow the arm to work. In this case, it was an air hose that punctured the robot
German researchers have developed a system of airbags to protect people working with robots from injury. The scientists from the DLR Robotics and Mechatronics Centre came up with the idea in 2016, and have now released a video explaining the system. The airbag inflates automatically around sharp edges when the manipulator arm moves, before deflating to allow the arm to work. In this case, it was an air hose that punctured the robot