Robot dog Grace: New pet of the university
The Mannheim University of Applied Sciences has a new pet since this year: the robot dog Grace. Grace was purchased for the research project TransforMA, in which Prof. Wasenmüller and his research team are involved. Within the project, technologies are being researched that allow humans to interact with robots. The technologies are then to be made accessible to the general public and can be experienced at various events. Grace is based in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and the CeMOS Research and Transfer Center at Mannheim University of Applied Sciences.
The team led by Prof. Wasenmüller gave the robot developed by Boston Dynamics the name Grace for several reasons: First, the name is an acronym for "General-purpose Robotic Assistant for Care and Education," which again clarifies the intended use. Secondly, the name is intended to commemorate Grace Hopper. She was an American engineer and pioneer of computer programming. She was the originator of the term 'bug', which every engineer knows today. Her pioneering spirit has contributed to the fact that today we are able to develop complex IT systems like four-legged robots. The choice of the name Grace is thus a tribute to Grace Hopper and is intended to commemorate her significant contributions to engineering. Similar to Grace Hopper, the robotic dog Grace embodies innovation, progress and the ability to push boundaries.
Grace is particularly distinguished by her advanced robotic technology, versatility and agile design. She is an autonomous quadruped capable of performing a wide variety of tasks. Thus, Grace has a wide range of capabilities. She can move on different terrains, including uneven surfaces, stairs and narrow spaces. With the help of sensors and cameras, she can also perceive her surroundings and detect obstacles, for example, to avoid them. She is capable of autonomous navigation or being controlled by an operator and can grasp and manipulate objects with the help of her arm, making her ideally suited for tasks in industry, disaster relief and exploration of hazardous environments. For example, she can perform inspections, collect data, carry loads, or even serve as a communication tool by interacting with other robots or humans. In addition, Grace can be equipped with a variety of extensions and attachments to customize its capabilities to meet specific needs. She also has open software interfaces so that further functionalities can be developed and added, e.g. for the TransforMA research project. As a result, she offers a flexible platform for research, development and practical applications in the field of robotics.