MUMBAI, India, Nov. 2 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202641124767 A) filed by S. Gopinath; Dr. K. Sheela Sobana Rani; Dr. K. Sivakami; Dr. S. Pragadeswaran; Dinesh P C; Bimalkumar M; Nithya Shree S S; Tharun S D; and Priyadharshini P on October 19, 2026, for Flexible Robotic Arm For Safe And Adaptive Industrial Operation.
Inventors include Dr. K. Sheela Sobana Rani; Dr. K. Sivakami; Dr. S. Pragadeswaran; Dinesh P C; Bimalkumar M; Nithya Shree S S; Tharun S D; and Priyadharshini P.
The application for the patent was published on October 30, 2026, under issue no. 44/2026.
Abstract: Industrial automation has become an integral part of modern manufacturing and material handling systems, with robotic arms playing a central role in tasks such as pick-and-place operations, assembly, and object sorting. However, conventional industrial robotic arms typically operate on fixed, pre-programmed motion paths and lack the ability to sense and adapt to their immediate environment. This rigidity often results in inefficient handling of objects of varying size, shape, and fragility, and poses safety risks when operating in dynamic environments alongside human workers or unpredictable obstacles. The project titled "Flexible Robotic Arm for Safe and Adaptive Industrial Operation" addresses these limitations by developing a low cost, sensor-driven robotic arm capable of adaptive and safe pick-and-place operations.The proposed system is built around the ESP32 microcontroller, chosen for its high processing capability, sufficient number of GPIO and PWM channels, and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, which eliminates the need for additional wireless hardware. The system integrates two primary sensing elements: an Ultrasonic sensor, which continuously measures the distance between the arm and the target object to enable safe, obstacle-aware approach and movement, and an IR sensor, which provides precise, close-range confirmation of object presence immediately before the gripping action is executed. Based on real-time data from these sensors, the ESP32 controls a set of servo motors to perform the arm's rotational movement and the gripper's opening and closing action, allowing the system to adapt its behavior dynamically rather than following a rigid, predetermined path.To enhance usability and monitoring, the system incorporates a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) that provides real-time local status feedback such as object detection, gripping in progress, and successful object hold allowing operators in the vicinity to monitor the arm's activity without additional equipment. In parallel, the system leverages an Internet of Things (IoT) module through the ESP32's built-in Wi-Fi capability to transmit the same operational status to a remote server or dashboard, enabling supervisors to monitor the arm's performance remotely in real time. This dual local-and-remote feedback mechanism supports both immediate operational safety and long-term data logging for performance analysis.The combination of adaptive sensing, safe object handling, local display feedback, and IoT-based remote monitoring makes the proposed system a cost-effective and scalable alternative to conventional rigid industrial robotic arms. The design demonstrates strong potential for deployment in small- to medium-scale industrial environments, particularly in applications involving fragile object handling, hazardous material management, and human collaborative workspaces. Future enhancements to the system may include the integration of a load cell for adaptive grip-force control based on object fragility, a vision-based camera module for object recognition and classification, and multi-arm coordination through a centralized IoT dashboard, aligning the system with emerging Industry 4.0 automation standards.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
