Description

Contact print of 23 negatives of a robot designed by Haruhiko Asada in a laboratory. Original Credit Line: Calvin Campbell.

Original Caption: "NEW ROBOT CONCEPT--A direct-drive robot, designed by Professor Haruhiko Asada of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is operated by graduate student Kamal Youcef-Toumi in the Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity where Professor Asada heads a robotic group. The direct-drive design means the robot can operate without gears or a transmission, which eliminates the uncertainty, vibration and 'backlash' of these components and permits higher precision at the robot's end effector--the 'hand' that holds the work or guides the tool. The direct-drive design also permits much faster operation than conventional robot arms. Special motors, also designed by the M.I.T. professor, power the robot."