Researchers create robot to provide you with an extra pair of hands

If you ever wished to have an extra pair of hands to do chores more easily, researchers have created just the perfect solution for that; a robot that will help you through its extra hands.

Engineers at the University of Tokyo and Keio University together have developed a backpack robotic system named ‘Fusion’ that can be worn on the user’s back and operated manually via a VR headset and controllers.

Fusion is a telepresence robot that has two arms and a head, allowing a remote operator to not only see what the wearer sees, but also manipulate the robot’s arms or use the robot to move the wearer’s arms, explained Engadget.

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While talking to The Verge, lead designer Yamen Saraji said that Fusion could be used, for example, by an expert to ‘guide new practitioners on how to operate certain instruments or to assist them remotely without the need of their physical presence’. It can also help in the rehabilitation process for people in physical therapy.

Video Courtesy: Yamen Saraji/YouTube

The video shows Fusion at work and how it can be used to help two individuals communicate and collaborate from a distance. The robotic arms can moved freely by themselves, be controlled by the host and even can be attached to the wearer’s arms with the help of wrist cuffs to move the human about.

Saraji exclaimed that he wanted to develop a ‘body-sharing experience’, thus he placed the bot’s arms directly behind the wearer while outfitting it with stereo vision and 3D binaural audio as well.

However, Saraji admitted that Fusion is just a prototype for now and does have some issues that still need to be worked upon, which includes the arms working at a bit of lag that can be disoriented, and the off-to-the-side view provided to the telepresence user. Also, since Fusion is just a prototype, there is no surety that it will ever be a commercial project.