Panasonic and Toyota: Human Finger Simulator

Main articles:

• Robots (robotics)
• Industrial robots
• Collaborative robot, cobot

2021: Robotic Assistant Safety Assessment Technology

Panasonic and Toyota Motor have developed a technology for assessing the safety of robotic assistants that will allow people and machines to coexist and collaborate peacefully. This was announced on October 20, 2021 in Panasonic.

Panasonic and Toyota have developed a "finger simulator" to assess robot safety

On October 15, 2021, with the participation of the Japanese company Tanac Co. a "human finger simulator" was launched to evaluate the safety of robotic equipment. It is expected that the development will be in great demand in industries with an increased risk of industrial injuries.

Robots are increasingly used in industry, especially the popularity of "collaborative" robots designed to increase productivity and become working assistants. At the same time, it is important to ensure safety at work, protecting people with their fragile limbs from injuries.

Combining Panasonic technologies with Toyota's knowledge and experience in manufacturing operations, the companies developed a "human finger simulator" as a tool for predicting possible soft tissue injuries when working with robots, as well as for simple verification and improvement of industrial safety conditions.

The "finger simulator" is based on a stainless steel rod that plays the role of human bone, covered with soft material that simulates the skin of the hand. This patented material has exactly the same rupture resistance as real skin. Accordingly, its use allows you to assess risks and visualize potential injuries, for example, when fingers hit between various parts of machines. The product can be reused by replacing the soft material, for convenience it is equipped with an ABS-plastic handle.

Panasonic and Toyota corporations began joint development of this technology in 2018. Panasonic also has physical safety assessment technology created in experiments using pig skin, which is said to be similar to human skin. Since 2005, the company has used a patented tool to assess the safety of its products, such as the "Hasamanize mechanism" to prevent fingers from getting into folding doors and parts of autonomous transport robots.