The Seednoid Robot Platform: Designing a Multipurpose Compact Robot From Continuous Evaluation and Lessons From Competitions

Abstract

Robots are designed to tackle specific problems or are designed as a multipurpose platform that achieves a concept. In this letter, we approach the hardware design problem from practice and evaluation through numerous competitions including the Darpa Robotics Challenge, the Amazon Picking Challenge, and other competitions that were held in Japan. The paper aims to answer the question what hardware design would we achieve if we continuously refine designs through competitions? We show that competitions lead to a more compact but capable platform design that is durable and has more end effector solutions. We also point out the limitations and benefits of using competitions for designing robot platforms. Our platform began from a human-inspired design for teleoperation and has evolved to mix both human-like and industrial robot structure.