(image credit: Meka Robotics) Meka M1 Mobile Manipulator | about US$340,000.00 | mekabot.com
developed by Meka Robotics, a specialist in development of robotic systems for researchers, the M1 Mobile Manipulator embodies mobility, dexterity and what Meka termed, complaint force-control which basically, means the the Meka Bot won’t accidentally crush your hand during a handshake. unlike most robot out there, M1 doesn’t have lower limbs, instead it uses simple motorized wheel base for mobility. this will means stairs and undulating floor are out of bound for our dear M1 but at least, you know it won’t lose balance and topple over.
along with a host of other sensors, the M1 rides on the existing Microsoft Kinect as part of its sensor system to give it both video and 3D depth perception which closely imitates human vision. though i put a price on the above, but this isn’t going to be a robot for everyone. the price tag for a M1 Mobile Manipulator is a cool $340,000 for a user-customizable design and it’s up for acquisition for institutions who are keen using it as a base for their own developments. it will be interesting see how the rest is going to expand the M1 capability and perhaps, we would be seeing a real world ‘Sonny’ in near future.
check out the short clip of the M1 in action after the break.