Robohub.org
 

Centipede microrobots

by
12 November 2011



share this:

Improvements in microfabricaton techniques and an increased understanding of insect locomotion has led to the development of impressive centimeter-sized legged robots. The cockroach-like robots seen in the videos below typically have rigid bodies and a set number of legs.


Following an alternative approach, Hoffman et al. developed a myriapod inspired robot with a flexible backbone and modular number of legs. The added flexibility and potentially large leg-count is expected to increase speed, robustness and stability while helping the robot adapt to difficult terrain or climb.

Because controlling many-legged robots with a flexible backbone is challenging, a dynamic model of the system was designed to predict the behavior of the myriapod and optimize its body parameters.

The resulting six-legged version of the robot seen below weighs 750 mg and is 3.5 by 3.5 cm. The fabrication of such a small robot is done using a Smart Composite Microstructures process that involves sandwiching a flexible material between two layers of rigid material such as carbon fiber. Flexures are created by making precise incisions in the carbon fiber, thereby revealing the flexible material which is then free to bend. Flexures can be solidified at any angle using glue or can be left flexible. What started out as a 2D structure is therefore folded into a 3D mechanical structure. Actuation is added by layering piezoelectric material, carbon fiber and glass fiber.

Results show the robot walking forward at a pace of 1 body length in 10 seconds, with a step size between 0.75 and 1 mm. The step size is dependent on the gait and is expected to vary with different body undulations.

The following video shows the latest version of the robot with 20 legs and insect-like body undulations.




Sabine Hauert is President of Robohub and Associate Professor at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory
Sabine Hauert is President of Robohub and Associate Professor at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory





Related posts :



Ranking the best humanoid robots of 2023

Is Rosie the Robot Maid from the Jetsons here yet? As more and more companies announce their work towards the affordable humanoid robot, I wanted to create a reference chart.
03 June 2023, by

Robot Talk Episode 51 – James Kell

In this week's episode of the Robot Talk podcast, host Claire Asher chatted to James Kell from Jacobs Engineering UK all about civil infrastructure, nuclear robotics and jet engine inspection.
02 June 2023, by

Automate 2023 recap and the receding horizon problem

“Thirty million developers” are the answer to driving billion-dollar robot startups, exclaimed Eliot Horowitz of Viam last week at Automate.
01 June 2023, by

We are pleased to announce our 3rd Reddit Robotics Showcase!

The 2021 and 2022 events showcased a multitude of fantastic projects from the r/Robotics Reddit community, as well as academia and industry. This year’s event features many wonderful robots including...
30 May 2023, by

European Robotics Forum 2023 was a success!

One of the highlights of the conference for us was our workshop "Supporting SMEs in Bringing Robotics Solutions to Market", where experts gave insights on how DIHs can create a greater impact for SMEs and facilitate a broad uptake and integration of robotics technologies in the industry.
28 May 2023, by

Helping robots handle fluids

Researchers create a new simulation tool for robots to manipulate complex fluids in a step toward helping them more effortlessly assist with daily tasks.
27 May 2023, by





©2021 - ROBOTS Association


 












©2021 - ROBOTS Association