Samsung BotChef v.2
BotChef was a project at Think Tank Team that I worked on for about two years. Its focus was to prototype robotic technologies and demonstrate their usefulness in the home of a future consumer. Over the course of the project, we developed several iterations of robotic arms intended to help perform kitchen tasks. This project helped kickstart Samsung’s investment in home robotics and was shown at IFA 2019 and CES 2020.
Consumer Robot
We wanted the design of the robot to be an intentional departure from the sorts of forms and structures usually seen in commercially available robots. A major part of that effort was the inline arm and the joints we designed to achieve that. The intent was to emulate forms found in human limbs and break the industrial connotations that robots have.
Design and Build
Collaborating with both ID and mechanical teams I was responsible for the CAD development, focusing on the structural design and integration of actuators and ID. I worked with external vendors to source the components and oversaw the assembly, installation, and maintenance of the prototypes. Additionally, for one of the joints I developed a cycloidal gearbox actuator a detailed description of which is available here.
In addition to the design and construction of the arm, I worked with team members to design and build several of the displays we used internally and at tradeshows.
BotChef On Display
In August 2019 BotChef made its first public showing at IFA in Berlin, Germany as part of the Samsung booth where it collaborated with chefs to prepare a meal. Following that success, it was also demoed as part of Samsung’s robotics initiative at CES 2020.
