Sarcos Corp. today said it has successfully demonstrated the SenSuit controller garment, which is part of the technologies designed for teleoperation of its Guardian XT dexterous mobile robotic system. The company said this milestone used its proprietary motion-caption controller to enable enhanced teleoperation of the robot’s dexterous arms.
“We are proud of the significant strides we have made in enhancing teleoperation capabilities for the Guardian XT robot as we march towards commercialization next year,” stated Ben Wolff, chairman and CEO of Sarcos Robotics. “Our new control system is expected to enable our customers to seamlessly and efficiently perform difficult tasks and to operate in dangerous environments—including at height—while keeping the operator safe and out of harm’s way.”
“We believe the integration of these advanced technologies, including our proprietary SenSuit controller, will set the gold standard for the teleoperation of robotic systems in the coming years,” he added.
Sarcos Guardian XT intended to keep workers safe
According to the 2019 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, workers falling from height in the U.S. is the fourth-most disabling and costly injury after overexertion, falling from the same level, and being struck by an object or equipment.
The Guardian XT robotic system is designed to perform intricate and dangerous tasks requiring human-like dexterity keeping the operator at a safe distance in challenging and hazardous conditions, including at height, said Sarcos. It is the upper-body variant of the Guardian XO full-body, battery-powered industrial exoskeleton.
Capable of lifting and manipulating up to 200 lb. (90 kg), the Guardian XT robot is designed to accomplish precision tasks and performing work in unstructured environments.
The Guardian XT is platform-agnostic and can be mounted to a variety of mobile bases to access hard-to-reach or elevated areas, according to Sarcos. It can be used in industries including power utilities, oil and gas, chemical processing, food processing, construction, infrastructure maintenance and repair, heavy manufacturing, maritime, and distribution and warehousing, as well as park, forest, and commercial property management.
Sarcos said the robot will integrate its SenSuit wearable controller and a high-definition, virtual reality or augmented reality (VR or AR) head-mounted display (HMD) to deliver intuitive control of the robot and provide situational awareness.
SenSuit mimics wearer's movements
The SenSuit controller enables the Guardian XT robot to mimic the operator’s movements in real time. It uses an inertial measurement unit (IMU) motion tracker that communicates with the robot and leverages Sarcos’ proprietary force-feedback technologies.
The Guardian XT robot is equipped with three degrees of freedom and end effectors that enable dexterous control of trade tools and materials, including hand-held power tools, welding and cutting equipment, inspection and test equipment, parts and components, hazardous materials, and retail inventory goods.
Sarcos recently put the advanced teleoperation control system, including the SenSuit motion-capture controller, and Guardian XT robotic system, to work in a live tree-trimming demonstration at its headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. It said the product will be commercially available by the end of 2022.
About Sarcos Robotics
Sarcos said its technology is based on more than 30 years of research and development into mobile robotic systems to augment human performance. Its systems for enhancing safety and productivity include the Guardian S, the Guardian GT, the Guardian XO, and the Guardian XT.
The company is backed by investors including Caterpillar Venture Capital Inc., Delta Air Lines, GE Ventures, Microsoft, and Schlumberger.
In April, Sarcos announced that it will become publicly listed through a merger transaction with Rotor Acquisition Corp., a publicly-traded special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC). The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021, at which point the combined company’s common stock is expected to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “STRC.”
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