COLOGNE, Germany - The use of robots alongside humans is increasing rapidly, making the flexibility of these machines an important safety feature. A robot's ability to adapt flexibly to its surroundings makes the difference between smooth operation and potential hazards, such as collisions with people nearby. The German Aerospace Center (Deutsche Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) has established itself as a pioneer in the field of cobots – collaborative robots that work in close cooperation with humans, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) reports. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
5 March 2025 - DLR researchers have advanced collaborative robotics by developing an elasto-plastic control approach that allows robots to yield without springing back to a fixed position. This mimics human flexibility in teamwork. Their robotic arm, more adaptable than rigid industrial models, was successfully tested in space in January 2024. As part of the Surface Avatar project, the controller enabled cooperation between ESA’s rover and a humanoid DLR robot remotely operated from the ISS.
Michael Panzirsch, a researcher at the DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, explains: "The new elastoplastic approach makes human-robot collaboration much easier. The robot can now clearly distinguish between its own programmed movements and external influences from the environment. The robot should only react plastically to the influence of the environment, meaning it should move out of the way and remain in that spot."
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Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
