World's Fastest Robot - Adept Quattro handling candy

[Kevin4381]

That robot is thinking: "give me a break!"

[roidroid]

why not just 3 arms?  why the extra arm?

[littlestworkshop]

A forth arm can provide a further actuator to help move the load giving higher acceleration. With a different design it could also rotate the load, I don't think it is doing that here I think there is a separate rotary actuator for that but it is hard to tell.

[reynott60]

It is rotating. The fourth arm means that a separate motor for rotation is not necessary. Look at around 20s and you can see that it is taking the random packs and placing them in line.

[littlestworkshop]

It is rotating the components but I think it is doing it with an actuator mounted on the head looking at the video at around 0:52 and at at videos on Adept's website. It makes sense as the rotation that could be provided would be reletively limited, a conventional actuator can provide 360 degrees of motion.

[reynott60]

@littlestworkshop It's not using a conventional actuator, so you are correct in that rotation is limited in this particular video. When more rotation is required a geared "platform" is used where the arms come together at the tool. A 4:1 gear ratio gives you full rotation.

[Delphanious]

Dude, look at how amazing it is, don't question the fourth arm - they obviously know what they're doing, lol.

[RoboTekno]

but can it break me off a piece of that kit kat bar? hmm lol