Variable Stiffness Actuators are at home in the fields of robotics and Industry 4.0, as well as in the Internet of Things (IoT). They are an important technical development because they make machines and robots much more flexible and safer.<\/p>\n
A Variable Stiffness Actuator is a special motor or drive that can change its stiffness. Stiffness means how much a drive \u201eresists\u201c external forces. By changing the stiffness, the robot can work either very stably and powerfully, or particularly compliantly and safely. This is important when robots work together with humans or perform sensitive tasks.<\/p>\n
A simple example: a robot arm equipped with variable stiffness actuators can lift heavy car parts (being stiff and stable) and the next moment gently hold a glass pane (being flexible and soft). This makes factories safer because robots can \u201egive way\u201c in the event of a collision with people. At the same time, this increases productivity and opens up new possibilities in automation.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"