Harpal Mandaher (Sarcomere Dynamics) | AI Vision Systems for Humanoid Robotics

In this talk

1. 1:02

   Designing hands for human environments

   Mandaher says human hands are a practical model because tools and workspaces are already made for their size and shape. He describes the design challenge as balancing strength, speed, weight, cost, and human-like form. Sarcomere Dynamics built its own actuators and designed the hands around them.

2. 3:00

   Three hand models and durability

   Mandaher describes the ARTS Light with 20 degrees of freedom, the TALOS Hand with 10, and the ARTS Dex with 24 and an articulated wrist. He says the ARTS Dex has tactile sensors, is designed to exceed human hand speed and strength, and costs under $25,000. The company uses brushless motors and estimates four to five years before they approach significant stress.

3. 4:30

   From hardware to deployable systems

   The hands are intended for workstation tasks such as bin picking, sorting, and complex assembly. After customers found the hardware difficult to program, the company expanded into software and autonomous grasping. It can also help integrate sensors and compatible arms so customers can choose how much support they need.

4. 10:52

   Customer support without losing focus

   Drawing on 32 years in the Canadian Army, Mandaher says customers should be offered ways to solve their problem rather than left to work through integration alone. Sarcomere Dynamics offers the hand by itself or can help select components and integrate a broader system. The team looks for recurring customer issues it can fix centrally, while staying disciplined about its limited resources.

5. 14:54

   Making automation easier to use

   Mandaher says the company will keep improving hand dexterity while developing software and AI to bring the system together. He compares the current state of robotics to early personal computers that required users to assemble and debug components. The aim is to make automation accessible to smaller businesses without in-house robotics experts, including in manufacturing and agriculture.