Ghost Robotics’ Vision 60 Q-UGV is equipped with the company’s new arm. | Source: Ghost Robotics

 

Ghost Robotics, a well-known manufacturer of robot bags, has released a universal manipulator for its Vision 60 model. Now the four-legged robot can open doors, collect samples and carry out inspections in dangerous areas, leaving people safe.

Ghost Robotics has made an evolutionary leap: its famous Vision 60 robot dog has grown a limb. No, not a fifth leg, but a full—fledged manipulative "arm" that turns an already agile machine into a versatile mobile employee for the most dangerous jobs on the planet.

The main character of the day: the manipulator-push

The new module is not just a claw on a stick. This is an integrated system with six degrees of freedom that can be installed directly in the field without sending the robot to the factory. According to Gavin Kinneely, CEO of Ghost Robotics, the manipulator is displayed as a "fifth leg" in the software, which ensures smooth and natural control.

The technical specifications speak for themselves:

Reach: 1 meter.

Load capacity: 3.75 kg at a distance of 50 cm.

Operating temperature range: -40°C to +55°C.

Protection: IP67 standard (full dust protection and immersion in water up to 1 meter).

But the main "trick" is modularity. The standard universal grip can be replaced with a specialized one, and the basic design allows you to use the "hand" even as a telescope — for viewing from a height of human height or from around a corner.

Why does a robot need "hands" if it has legs?

The Vision 60 robot has been serving for several years in units of the US Army and Marine Corps, as well as at commercial facilities, from data centers to construction sites. He can walk on snow, mud, gravel and even shallow water. But until now, his main limitation was the lack of a manipulator — he could reach the place, but could not do anything there.

"We had a lot of clients who needed robots to be able to walk through doors, remove obstacles, and lift small objects," explains Kinneely. It is precisely these tasks that the new module is designed to solve. Now Vision 60 can:

Open doors and hatches.

Lift and carry objects.

Inspect the equipment.

Work in Mine Clearance Areas (EOD).

Interestingly, the clients themselves suggested an unobvious use of the manipulator — to use it as a movable platform for the camera to look around, as a human does. The developers listened to the advice and added additional cameras at the end of the "arm".

The labor market for robots: who is looking for "working paws"?

With the advent of such advanced machines as the Vision 60 equipped with a manipulator, the question of their effective "employment" naturally arises. Who needs a robot that can go where tracked vehicles can't and perform complex manipulations?

The answer is simple: to anyone who works in dangerous or inaccessible conditions. These are sappers, emergency response services, and inspectors of industrial facilities. Potentially, specialized platforms could also be useful for such specialized machines to select specific tasks, for example, the world's first ecosystem for hiring robots. jobtorob.com , which helps to connect the capabilities of technology with the needs of the business.

What about the competitors? Spot is not the only one who knows how to "give a paw"

Ghost Robotics is not the only company that equips four—legged robots with manipulators. The flagship of Boston Dynamics Spot has been working for several years with various "hands" from third-party manufacturers, for example, from RoboDK. The key difference between the Ghost Robotics approach is deep integration. Their manipulator was designed as part of a robot, not as an add-on, which, according to the company, provides greater reliability and ease of operation.

Another player in this field is the Chinese company Unitree, which also demonstrated prototypes of its robotic bags with manipulators. However, their solutions are still more of a demonstration nature, while Ghost Robotics immediately offers a serial product for real-world applications.

The future: robopes as a universal platform

The release of the manipulator is a logical step in Ghost Robotics' strategy to turn Vision 60 into a universal mobile platform. The robot was originally designed with modularity in mind: it can easily change the "shoes" — attachments on paws for different surfaces, various sensors and communication systems are installed. Now the ability to manipulate objects has been added to this.

"Our mission is to keep people safe,— says Gavin Kinneely. — We are already creating walking robots for the most demanding customers working in the most difficult conditions. Now these same robots can interact with the world around them, providing rapid response services, military personnel, and inspectors with a safer and more functional platform for dangerous or hard-to-reach missions."

In the future, we can expect the appearance of even more specialized grips and tools for this "hand" — for example, for mine clearance or sampling materials. And then, you see, the robops will learn not just how to open doors, but also how to pour coffee. Although no, it is better to leave this sacred human duty to people.