Robotic Arm

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During some spare time at work, I explored the use of Leap Motion for more intricate tasks. The goal was to control a robotic arm using Leap Motion, evaluating its potential for precise and delicate operations. The project involved using a kinematic drill controlled by a translated cursor on screen to pick up, move, and place objects, specifically connecting wires based on their symbol and color on a symbol map.

Key Achievements and Features

• Leap Motion Integration:
  • Integrated the Leap Motion SDK into Unity to track hand movements.
  • Configured hand gestures for precise control of a virtual robotic arm.
• Kinematic Drill Control:
  • Developed a system where a kinematic drill followed a translated cursor on screen.
  • Enabled the drill to pick up, move, and place objects accurately.
• Wire Connection Task:
  • Created a task where users connect wires based on their symbol and color.
  • Designed a symbol map to guide the placement of wires.
• Control Mapping:
  • Implemented custom scripts in C# for handling input from Leap Motion.
  • Ensured smooth and responsive control of the robotic arm.

Possibilities

• Precision Tasks: Leap Motion can be used for tasks requiring high precision, such as assembling small components or performing delicate operations in manufacturing and medical fields.
• Hands-Free Control: Provides a hands-free interface for controlling robotic systems, which can be beneficial in sterile environments or situations where using traditional controllers is impractical.
• Enhanced Interaction: Can enhance user interaction in VR and AR applications by allowing more natural and intuitive control of virtual objects.

Challenges

• Lack of Physical Feedback: One significant challenge is the lack of haptic feedback, which can make precise control more difficult compared to using physical controllers.
• Tracking Accuracy: The accuracy of hand tracking can be affected by factors such as lighting conditions and occlusion, potentially leading to inconsistent performance.
• Complex Gesture Recognition: Implementing and recognizing complex gestures accurately can be challenging and may require extensive calibration and testing.

You can see the project in action here. This project demonstrated both the potential and the challenges of using Leap Motion for intricate and precise tasks, such as those required in robotic control.