• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2022.06a
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• pp.336-343
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• 2022

Industrial robotic arms are widely adopted in numerous industries for manufacturing automation under factory settings, which eliminates the limitations of manual labor and provides significant productivity and quality benefits. The U.S. modular construction industry, despite having similar controlled factory environments, still heavily relies on manual labor. Thus, this study investigates the U.S., Canada, and Europe-based leading modular construction companies and research labs implementing industrial robotic arms for manufacturing automation. The investigation mainly considered the current research scope, industry state, and constraints, as well as identifying the types and specifications of the robotic arms in use. First, the study investigated well-recognized modular building associations, the Modular Building Institute (MBI), and renowned architecture design magazine, Dezeen to gather industry updates. The authors discovered one university lab and a few companies that adopted Switzerland-based robotic arms, ABB. Researching ABB robotics led to the discovery of ABB's competitor, Germany-based KUKA robotic arms. Consequently, research extended to the companies and labs adopting KUKA models. In total, this study has identified seven modular companies and four research labs. All companies employed robotic arms and gantry robot combinations in a production-line-like system for partial automation, and some adopted design standardization for optimization. The common goal among the labs was to achieve greater flexibility and full automation with robotic arms. This study will help companies better implement robotic arm automation by providing recommendations from investigating its current industry status.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2020

This paper proposes a low-cost robotic surgery system composed of a general purpose robotic arm, an interface for daVinci surgical robot tools and a modular haptic controller utilizing smart actuators. The 7 degree of freedom (DOF) haptic controller is suspended in the air using the gravity compensation, and the 3D position and orientation of the controller endpoint is calculated from the joint readings and the forward kinematics of the haptic controller. Then the joint angles for a general purpose robotic arm is calculated using the analytic inverse kinematics so that that the tooltip reaches the target position through a small incision. Finally, the surgical tool wrist joints angles are calculated to make the tooltip correctly face the desired orientation. The suggested system is implemented and validated using the physical UR5e robotic arm.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1900-1908
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• 2004

A human-friendly interactive system that is based on the harmonious symbiotic coexistence of human and robots is explored. Based on interactive technology paradigm, a robotic cane is proposed for blind or visually impaired travelers to navigate safely and quickly through obstacles and other hazards faced by blind pedestrians. Robotic aids, such as robotic canes, require cooperation between human and robots. Various methods for implementing the appropriate cooperative recognition, planning, and acting, have been investigated. The issues discussed include the interaction between humans and robots, design issues of an interactive robotic cane, and behavior arbitration methodologies for navigation planning.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2022

Background: We compared the safety and effectiveness of robotic anatomical resection and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of the records of 4,283 patients, in whom an attempt was made to perform minimally invasive anatomical resection for lung cancer at Seoul National University Hospital from January 2011 to July 2020. Of these patients, 138 underwent robotic surgery and 4,145 underwent VATS. Perioperative outcomes were compared after propensity score matching including age, sex, height, weight, pulmonary function, smoking status, performance status, comorbidities, type of resection, combined bronchoplasty/angioplasty, tumor size, clinical T/N category, histology, and neoadjuvant treatment. Results: In total, 137 well-balanced pairs were obtained. There were no cases of 30-day mortality in the entire cohort. Conversion to thoracotomy was required more frequently in the VATS group (VATS 6.6% vs. robotic 0.7%, p=0.008). The complete resection rate (VATS 97.8% vs. robotic 98.5%, p=1.000) and postoperative complication rate (VATS 17.5% vs. robotic 19.0%, p=0.874) were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The robotic group showed a slightly shorter hospital stay (VATS 5.8±3.9 days vs. robotic 5.0±3.6 days, p=0.052). N2 nodal upstaging (cN0/pN2) was more common in the robotic group than the VATS group, but without statistical significance (VATS 4% vs. robotic 12%, p=0.077). Conclusion: Robotic anatomical resection in lung cancer showed comparable early outcomes when compared to VATS. In particular, robotic resection presented a lower conversion-to-thoracotomy rate. Furthermore, a robotic approach might improve lymph node harvesting in the N2 station.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.365-375
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate cognition of life phenomenon on robotic dogs according to properties of robotic dogs amongst aged 3, 4 and 5. 95 Children aged 3 to 5 years participated in this study. Each child was interviewed individually and responded to questions designed to measure his/her cognition of life phenomenon. The major findings of this study are as follows. First, there was a significant difference in children's cognition of the life phenomenon according to their age. 3 years were more likely to refer the robotic dog as alive, compared to the 5 years. Secondly there was a significant difference in children's inference of the life phenomenon according to properties of robotic dogs. Such as high activeness and responsiveness, preschoolers considered robotic dogs to be alive and have more biological and psychological traits. This result shows the activeness and responsiveness of robotic dogs influences young children's inference of life phenomenon.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2008.10b
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• pp.68-70
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• 2008

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the emergence of innovative technologies made further advances in minimal access surgery possible. Robotic surgery and telepresence surgery effectively addressed the limitations of laparoscopic procedures, thus revolutionizing minimal access surgery. Surgical robots provide surgeons with to technologically advanced vision and hand skills. As a result, such systems are expected to revolutionize the field of surgery. In that time, much progress has been made in integrating robotic technologies with surgical instrumentation. However, robotic surgery will not only require special training, but it will also change the existing surgical training pattern and reshape the learning curve by offering new solutions, such as robotic surgical simulators and robotic telementoring. This article provides an introduction to medical robotic technologies, develops a possible classification, reviews the evolution of a surgical robot, and discusses future prospects for innovation. In the future, surgical robots should be smaller, less expensive, easier to operate, and should seamlessly integrate emerging technologies from a number of different fields. We believe that, in the near future as robotic technology continues to develop, almost all kinds of endoscopic surgery will be performed by this technology.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 1997.06c
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• pp.238-246
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• 1997

This study was conducted to develop a robotic transplanter for bedding plants. The robotic transplanter consisted of machine vision system, a manipulator, a gripper and plug tray transfer system. The performance of the robotic transplanter was tested and compared by two different transplanting methods, which were to consider the leaf orientation of seedlings and not to. Results of this study were as follows. (1) A cartesian coordinate manipulator for a robotic transplanter with 3 degree of freedom was constructed. The accuracy of position control was $\pm$1 mm. (2) The robotic transplanter with the machine vision system, the manipulator, the gripper and the transfer system was developed and tested with a shovel-type finger. Without considering the orientation of leaves, the success rates of transplanting healthy cucumber seedlings in 72-cell and 128-cell plug-trays were 95.5% and 94.5% respectively. Considering the orientation of leaves, the success rates of transplanting healthy cucumber seedling in 72-cell and 128-cell plug-trays were 96.0% and 95.0% respectively.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.92-96
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• 2018

In this paper, a soft robotic arm which can prevent impact injury during human-robot interaction is introduced. Two degrees of freedom joint are required to realize free movement of the robotic arm. A robotic joint concept with a single degree of freedom is presented using simple inflatable elements, and then extended to form a robotic joint with two degrees of freedom joint using similar manufacturing methods. The robotic joint with a single degree of freedom has a joint angle of $0^{\circ}$ bending angle when both chamber are inflated at equal pressures and maximum bending angles of $28.4^{\circ}$ and $27.1^{\circ}$ when a single chamber if inflated. The robotic joint with two degrees of freedom also has a bending angle of $0^{\circ}$ in both direction when all three chambers are inflated at equal pressures. When either one or two chambers were pressurized, the robotic joint performed bending towards the uninflated chambers.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.266-278
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• 2021

Lobectomy is the standard treatment for early non-small cell lung cancer. Various surgical techniques for lobectomy have been developed, and minimally invasive thoracic surgery, such as video-assisted thoracic surgery or robot-assisted thoracic surgery, has been considered as an alternative to conventional open thoracotomy. The recently robotic lobectomy technique has developed since the first case series was published in 2002. Several studies have reported that robotic lobectomy has comparable oncologic and perioperative outcomes to those of video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy and open lobectomy. However, robotic lobectomy remains a challenge for surgeons because of the steep learning curve, reduced tactile sensation, difficulty in port placement, and challenges in cooperation between the surgeon and assistant. Many studies have reported on robotic lobectomy, but few have presented surgical techniques for robotic lobectomy. In this article, the surgical techniques and optimal performance of robotic lobectomy are described in detail for all 5 types of lobectomy for surgeons beginning with robotic lobectomy.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2016

Minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer has increased in popularity during the last two decades mainly in the Asia for patients with early-stage cancer. Nevertheless, the development of laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancers in the Western world has been slow because of the advanced stage at diagnosis for which LG is not yet considered an acceptable alternative to standard open surgery. RAG has been reported as a safe alternative to conventional surgery for treating of early gastric carcinoma. We assess the current status of robotic surgery in the treatment of gastric cancer focusing on the technical details, postoperative outcome, oncological considerations and future perspectives. In gastrectomy the biggest advantage of the robotic approach is the ease and reproducibility of lymphadenectomy. Reports also show that even the intra corporeal digestive restoration is facilitated by use of the robotic approach, particularly following TG. Additionally, the accuracy of robotic dissection is confirmed by decreased blood loss in comparison to conventional laparoscopy. The learning curve and technical reproducibility also appear to be shorter with robotic surgery and, consequently, robotics can help to standardize and diffuse minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of gastric cancer. While published reports have shown no significant differences in surgical morbidity, mortality, or oncological adequacy between robot-assisted and conventional gastrectomy. There are some advantages in terms of postoperative recovery of patients after robotic surgery. More studies are needed to assess the true indications and oncological effectiveness of robotic use in the treatment of gastric carcinoma.