Among the main activities of the MdM Group, mechatronics and robotics play a major role. The experience of the group covers a wide range of problems, from pure research to the latest industrial applications.
Particular attention has been paid to problems arising from the development and analysis of machines with parallel kinematics and innovative reconfigurable machines. However, the academic interest did not distract from topics closer to industrial application, from the hot topics of collaborative robotics and Industry 4.0
COLLABORATIVE ROBOTICS
Collaborative robots, or cobots, are next-generation industrial robots designed to work together with humans safely, without barriers or protective cages to divide them. Cobots specialize in performing tasks that they learn directly in the field, are autonomous, and are revolutionizing the factory automation industry.
RECONFIGURABLE DEVICES
A reconfigurable machine is capable of exhibiting different kinematic modes while retaining its structure. This feature can be exploited to increase its flexibility toward production processes that may require different dexterity or mobility capabilities within the same task.
PARALLEL KINEMATIC
A robot with parallel kinematics is a robot characterized by a structure in which closed kinematic chains are recognizable. Namely, they consist of a mobile platform supported and set in motion by two or more legs. This characteristic gives parallel robots a great dynamic performance (high accelerations), high rigidity and load capacity.
MINIATURIZED DEVICES
Mini robotics is a cutting-edge field of research in precision mechanics that has applications in areas such as biomedical engineering and mechatronics (e.g., MEMS). Research is mainly focused on new forms of actuators, the realization of miniaturized and precise mechanical joints, and the development of high-precision mini-grippers.
UNDERSEA ROBOTICS
The development of increasingly capable autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) has spurred research into biologically inspired robots. It is well known that the instinctive swimming abilities that biological systems (fish and marine mammals) have developed over millions of years are far superior to what modern marine technology is capable of.
KINEMATIC CALIBRATION
The MdM Group has developed expertise in the field of kinematic calibration of manipulators, both in the definition of kinematic error models and associated numerical algorithms for parameter estimation and in experimental measurement procedures.
ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL ROBOTICS APPLICATIONS
Improving the efficiency and sustainability of waste management in the electronics industry requires the reuse of valuable electronic components instead of recycling to recover valuable materials. In this context, the management of recovered electronic components can be done by specially designed automated devices