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DAS Finger Controller Manual

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1. Important Safety Information

1.1 Safety Instructions

Before first use, read this chapter thoroughly and follow all safety guidelines.
For assistance: support@genrobot.ai.

1.1.1 Warning Sign Meaning

  • ⚠️ Danger: May cause serious injury, death, or major property damage.
  • ⚠️ Warning: May cause personal injury or equipment damage.
  • ⚠️ Attention: May result in device malfunction or data loss.
  • 💡 Tip: Helpful suggestions for better operation.

1.2 Liability & Restrictions

  • Do not modify or alter the device.
  • GENROBOT.AI is not responsible for issues caused by misuse, unauthorized changes, or operational errors.
  • Using this device means you agree to all safety terms and assume full responsibility for its operation.
  • The product is not intended for users under 18 years old.

1.3 Integrator & User Responsibilities

  • Conduct a complete threat and risk assessment before deployment.
  • Implement proper security protections based on assessment results.
  • Ensure all hardware and software are installed and configured correctly.
  • Do not disable or change safety measures without authorization.
  • Comply with relevant laws, standards, and industry regulations.

1.4 Environmental Requirements

1.4.1 Operating Conditions

  • Operating temperature: 0°C–40°C
  • Storage temperature: -20°C–60°C
  • Humidity: 10–90% (non-condensing)
  • Protection rating: IP52

1.4.2 Environmental Precautions

  • Avoid strong magnetic fields and prolonged direct sunlight.
  • Keep away from heat sources and corrosive environments.
  • Operate in a clean, dry, and well-ventilated area.

1.5 Operational Safety

1.5.1 Pre-operation Checks

  • Ensure the device has no visible damage.
  • Verify all cables are intact.
  • Confirm all included items are complete.

1.5.2 Operating Guidelines

  • Always operate within line of sight.
  • Keep all body parts away from the device’s moving range.

1.5.3 Exception Handling

  • Stop operation immediately if abnormalities occur.
  • Do not disassemble or repair without authorization.
  • Contact technical support for assistance.

2. Product Overview

2.1 Product Introduction and Assembly

The DAS Finger Controller is a homogeneous controller for the DAS Finger. After users collect data and complete training with the DAS Finger, they can deploy models with the DAS Finger Controller.

Package List

ItemQuantity
DAS Finger Controller× 1
Replaceable gripper heads× 2
Type-C data cable× 1
Power cable× 1
L-shaped hex key× 1
M3 boltsSeveral

2.1.1 Structural Assembly

Gripper Assembly

Gripper assembly diagram

Gripper assembly diagram

Gripper TypeUse Case
Universal gripperSuitable for most grasping tasks
Tactile gripperSuitable for tasks requiring precise force control

Flange Assembly

The end of the DAS Finger Controller provides a standard mounting interface, and the side includes three M3 threaded mounting holes. For detailed hole positions and interface parameters, refer to the corresponding mechanical drawing. When integrating with a third-party robotic arm or other operating equipment, use an adapter flange for mechanical connection. The adapter flange should be designed according to the target device interface, mounting hole pattern, and dimensional parameters, and the connection must be reliable.

When using the DAS Finger Controller with a third-party robotic arm, install an adapter flange:

StepOperation
1Install the flange onto the robotic arm end
2Fix the DAS Finger Controller to the flange with three M3 screws

Flange installation diagram

Flange installation diagram

Dimension Parameters

Finger Controller V1

Finger Controller V1 dimension parameters

2.1.2 Electrical Connection

InterfaceSpecification
PowerXT30 2+2 interface, 24V, XT30(PB) connector type
Communication and controlUnified Type-C interface

Insert an XT30 series female connector into the DAS Finger Controller XT30 2+2 interface and connect it to a 24V power supply.

2.1.3 Communication Connection

StepDescription
1Connect the Type-C cable to the Controller and connect the USB end to the PC
2Prepare a computer and connect it to the data acquisition unit (Pika Sense)
ConfigurationRequirement
Operating systemLinux

2.2 SDK Usage Instructions

SDK Repositories and Computer Environment Requirements

General requirement: All SDKs require a USB 3.0 interface to connect to the Controller. For dependency installation, refer to each repository's requirements.txt or README.

SDKRepositoryOperating SystemRuntime Environment
ROS2 SDKgen_finger_con_ros2_sdk_releaseUbuntu 24.04 (recommended)ROS 2 Jazzy, Python 3.10+
C++ SDKgen_finger_con_cplus_sdk_releaseUbuntu 20.04 (recommended)C++17, CMake 3.16+
Python SDKgen_finger_con_python_sdk_releaseUbuntu 20.04 (recommended)Python 3.8+, no ROS dependency
ROS1 SDKgen_finger_con_ros1_sdk_releaseUbuntu 20.04 (recommended)ROS 1 Noetic, Python 3.8+

2.2.1 Finger Connection Configuration

Refer to each SDK repository README to complete USB interface configuration and driver startup. Each Finger Controller requires 1 serial port and 1 camera.

2.2.2 Camera SDK Instructions

Camera Node Function

The camera node captures image data from 1 camera and publishes it to the corresponding ROS Topics, providing visual input for the Finger Controller system.

Resolution Configuration

The system tries to configure resolutions in priority order and supports the following resolutions:

ResolutionDescriptionTypical Use
1600×1296High resolution (default)Fine manipulation and image processing
640×480Standard resolutionReal-time preview and low-compute scenarios

2.2.3 Finger SDK Instructions

The DAS Finger Controller provides Finger control, camera image, tactile sensor data, and encoder feedback interfaces through the ROS SDK. The following sections describe communication features and Topics. For camera Topics, see 2.2.2 Camera SDK Instructions.

Core Features

ItemDescription
Communication methodBidirectional serial communication based on the custom DAS protocol
Data update frequencyEncoder and tactile sensors run at 30 Hz
Control precisionMillimeter-level distance control for fine manipulation
Operation modesSupports single-finger and dual-finger modes
Safety protectionSupports emergency stop, motor disable, and other safety operations
Distance rangeTarget opening/closing distance [0.0, 0.2] m (about 0-200 mm)

Topic List

Single-Finger Mode - Published Topics:

Topic NameMessage TypeUpdate FrequencyDescription
/camera/color/image_rawsensor_msgs/Image30 HzFinger camera image
/encoderstd_msgs/Float3230 HzFinger opening/closing distance feedback (unit: m)
/tactile/leftstd_msgs/Int8MultiArray30 HzLeft tactile sensor data
/tactile/rightstd_msgs/Int8MultiArray30 HzRight tactile sensor data

Dual-Finger Mode - Published Topics:

All dual-finger mode Topics use /left_finger or /right_finger as the namespace prefix.

Topic NameMessage TypeUpdate FrequencyDescription
/left_finger/camera/color/image_rawsensor_msgs/Image30 HzLeft Finger camera image
/left_finger/encoderstd_msgs/Float3230 HzLeft Finger opening/closing distance feedback (unit: m)
/left_finger/tactile/leftstd_msgs/Int8MultiArray30 HzLeft Finger left tactile sensor data
/left_finger/tactile/rightstd_msgs/Int8MultiArray30 HzLeft Finger right tactile sensor data
/right_finger/camera/color/image_rawsensor_msgs/Image30 HzRight Finger camera image
/right_finger/encoderstd_msgs/Float3230 HzRight Finger opening/closing distance feedback (unit: m)
/right_finger/tactile/leftstd_msgs/Int8MultiArray30 HzRight Finger left tactile sensor data
/right_finger/tactile/rightstd_msgs/Int8MultiArray30 HzRight Finger right tactile sensor data

Subscribed Topics (Control Commands):

Topic NameMessage TypeDescription
/target_distancestd_msgs/Float32Single-Finger target opening/closing distance, range [0.0, 0.2] m
/left_finger/target_distancestd_msgs/Float32Left Finger target opening/closing distance, range [0.0, 0.2] m
/right_finger/target_distancestd_msgs/Float32Right Finger target opening/closing distance, range [0.0, 0.2] m

Launch Parameters:

ParameterDefaultDescription
serial/dev/ttyFingerLeftSerial port (single-finger launch)
video_device/dev/finger_camera_leftCamera device (single-finger launch)
left_serial/dev/ttyFingerLeftLeft Finger serial port
right_serial/dev/ttyFingerRightRight Finger serial port
left_video_device/dev/finger_camera_leftLeft Finger camera
right_video_device/dev/finger_camera_rightRight Finger camera
camera_resolutions1600x1296Camera resolution
show_previewtrueWhether to show the OpenCV preview window
fps60Camera parameter value; when set to 60, image output is 30 Hz

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