<p> Apples, no problem. Oranges, why not? This robotic arm, dubbed “Ultra-Fast,” <B>can catch anything</b>, or so says researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne…but is this just the ultimate game of catch, or can it actually be used for practical use in agriculture? If you’re skeptical, check out this cool demonstration – it’s only about a minute long! </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><iframe width="480" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/M413lLWvrbI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>So, how does it work? The robotic arm could <B>analyze and predict</b> an object’s shape and trajectory about a hundred times per second, allowing it to catch pretty much anything that will fit in the palm of your hand. Plus, it’s so advanced that researchers have been able to teach it how to consistently catch a certain part of an object if needed. Seungsu Kim from Learning Algorithms and Systems Laboratory (LASA) explains that they teach the robot <B>how to predict a moving object</b>, <B>where to grab it</b>, and <B>how to move</b>. The robot learns from <B>observing humans</b> and from watching the object fly through the air a number of times. It then uses this model for catching in real time, just like a human.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="http://vpm-clients.s3.amazonaws.com/misc/GIF-Robot-arm-catching-stuff_500.gif" alt="cropped_image_051614" /></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Aude Billard from LASA explains that although it’s only an arm in its current state, the technology can be used in any application that requires <B>quick reactions</b> to changes in the environment.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p> Imagine walking down an apple orchard, picking apples and then simply tossing them over your back to this friendly robotic arm who then deposits it in a basket. Or what if you could place it under a tree to catch something before it falls to the ground? By the way, I’m patenting these ideas. ;)</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p> Recently on ANUK, we featured the world’s first robotic vineyard pruner. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.andnowuknow.com/bloom/french-inventor-gives-demonstration-robotic-grapevine-pruner/11305/jordan-okumura" target="_new"> Click here to read: French Inventor Gives Demonstration of Robotic Grapevine Pruner </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Perhaps you could pair the two to do the harvesting for you. The pruner would drive up and down vineyard rows, make the cuts, and the robotic arm could catch the grapes. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The possibilities are seemingly endless.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.epfl.ch" target="_new"> Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
