This MIT robot inspects your packages without even opening them!

Imagine a robot capable of checking the condition of a product without. Consequently, even opening its box. Similarly, A cup with a broken handle, a poorly fixed tool, or a missing part in a closed packaging … Consequently, and all this detected without contact, without unpacking, or waste of time. Therefore, This is exactly what the latest MIT innovation allows: imaging technology that literally gives robots the ability to “see through” opaque materials such as cardboard. Similarly, plastic or even certain interior walls.

This system. Therefore, called MMNORM, is based on millimeter waves, close to those used by Wi-Fi networks, but used here to make 3D reconstructions of hidden objects with an impressive 96 %precision.

A radar like no other – This mit robot inspects your

If this technology may seem to be released from a science fiction film. Meanwhile, it is based on this mit robot inspects your a well-known principle of the world of physics: the reflection of electromagnetic waves. However, Unlike visible light, millimeter waves can cross materials such as plastic or cardboard. When they meet an object inside, they bounce, and these reflected signals are then captured by a radar sensor.

But that’s not all. Where Mmnorm makes the difference is in the intelligent interpretation of these reflections. The MIT research team. led by Laura Dodds, has managed to take advantage of a property often overlooked in conventional systems: specularity.

Specularity is the way in which a surface reflects the waves, like a mirror. Most radar systems ignore this data, because an area facing the sensor does not return an exploitable echo. But the MIT team has developed an algorithm capable of estimating the management of these surfaces. in addition to their position. This allows a much more precise 3D reconstruction. especially for this mit robot inspects your objects with curved or complex shapes, such as a drill, cutlery or … a cup handle.

A robotic arm to inspect the invisible – This mit robot inspects your

In their tests. the researchers coupled this system with a robotic arm equipped with a mmwave radar. The arm moves around an object hidden in a closed box, while performing continuous statements. These measures are then treated in real time to generate a faithful 3D modeling of the masked object.

The prototype has been able to distinguish forms. identify defects visible to the naked eye (but invisible to classic radar), and to restore the geometry of objects with unprecedented precision.

In comparison. competing technologies today cap at around 78 % of precision, in particular because they do not take into account the directions of reflection of the surfaces.

Towards a revolution in warehouses … and far beyond

MMNORM’s applications are potentially immense. In logistics warehouses, factories or production channels, inspectors’ robots could scan cards on a treadmill without ever opening them. Save time, reduction of delivery errors, decrease in customer feedback: the profits are obvious.

But technology could also extend to humanoid robots. capable of moving to an industrial or residential environment to locate a specific object in a drawer or behind a partition.

Another major asset: the MMNORM system does not use more bandwidth than a classic Wi-Fi. which means that it can be integrated into environments already saturated in signals without creating interference.

A progress that exceeds quality control

More broadly, this this mit robot inspects your advance opens the way to new forms of human-machine interaction. A domestic robot could. for example, locate an object behind a partition, or identify if a fragile product is damaged at the reception without opening its packaging.

And for manufacturers of industrial equipment, this could be an opportunity to drastically improve controls without interrupting the production lines.

What the future has in store for us

For the moment. MMNORM is still at the stage of laboratory prototype, but the results are fairly promising to consider short -term industrial applications. The MIT team is already working to miniaturize the system and adapt it to mobile robots.

The next step? Warehouses where each package would be automatically inspected on the fly, smarter and more effective factories … And perhaps. one day, robots capable of detecting a leak or a breakdown behind a wall, without having to pierce it.