Company Profile

Research and training in the general area of Robotic Mechanical Systems. The group is composed of research associates, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and undergraduate interns. The focus of our research is design and control of robotic mechanical systems at large as well as their mechanical components, such as drives and sensors. A major activity here is the development of speed reducers meeting the strict requirements of robotic and mechatronic applications: zero backlash; zero friction; and unlimited stiffness. While meeting these demands is physically impossible, we are trying hard to do much better than gears. You will be able to see our prototypes of Speed-o-Cam, in two versions, planar and spherical. The former is intended to replace spur and helicoidal gears, while the latter bevel gears with straight and spiral teeth. We also have on display a virtual and a rapid prototype (courtesy of Ecole Centrale de Nantes\' Dr. Damien Chablat, France) of Slide-o-Cam, intended to replace rack-and-pinion transmissions. On robot design, we stress robustness regarding their kinetostatic, elastostatic and elastodynamic performances. We are showcasing various projects, such as the Multimodular Manipulator System, or M3, composed of three modules, altogether forming a system with 11 controlled axes. We are also developing a four-degree-of-freedom parallel manipulator intended for motions proper of what is known as SCARA (Selective-Compliance Assembly Robot Arm) systems, most of which bear a serial architecture, which limits their load-carrying capacity, their positioning accuracy and their speed of operation. To counter these drawbacks, our parallel robot, the Schönflies-Motion Generator, offers the possibility of grounding all four motors and producing faster motions and more accurate positioning capabilities. We are also developing transmissions for wheeled robots with special features, allowing for accurate positioning, faster operations and unlimited rotation capabilities

Product Range

  • Mobile robot research: Multi-Degree-of- Freedom (MDOF) vehicle
  • Mobile robot research: Obstacle avoidance
  • Research in the field of robotics
  • Research: Mechanical-transmission technology
  • Research: Schönflies-Motion Generator (SMG)
  • Robotics research: Dextrous manipulator
  • Robotics research: Force control
  • Robotics research: Four degree-of-freedom parallel-kinematics
  • Robotics research: Manipulation tool
  • Robotics research: Multi-arm cooperation
  • Robotics research: Obstacle avoidance
  • Robotics research: Parallel mechanisms
  • Robotics research: Robot visualization systems
  • Robotics research: Software
  • Robotics research: Trajectory planning