Insect-sized robot - The "hopping" device can explore difficult terrain, carry loads
Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed an insect-sized jumping robot capable of navigating rugged terrain and carrying heavy loads, offering potential applications in disaster response and exploration.
The finger-sized device, weighing less than a paper clip, combines a spring-loaded foot and four arm modules that move to overcome obstacles and traverse various surfaces such as ice, wet glass and dirt.
The robot, recently presented in the journal Science Advances, jumps up to 20 centimeters high, four times its size, while using 60% less energy than other aerial robots. Its elastic leg converts kinetic energy efficiently, similar to a pen spring, while its moving arms provide stability and orientation.
This design allows the machine to carry loads up to 10 times heavier than those of similarly sized flying robots, enabling the integration of batteries, sensors, and circuitry. The robot's control system adjusts its trajectory in the air, ensuring precise landings on dynamic terrain.
"The passive leg ensures that the robot can bounce back efficiently from the ground. On the other hand, the flapping wing modules enable stability," said Yi-Hsuan (Nemo) Hsiao, an MIT graduate student and co-lead author.
Funded in part by the National Science Foundation, the project aims to make the robot autonomous, adding power and integrated sensors.
The team sees the device's versatility as a potential breakthrough for multimodal robotics on such a small scale, making it useful in search and rescue missions, where it can enter and navigate through confined spaces.
"The most positive aspect about this robot is that it can traverse different terrains," said Yi-Hsuan Hsiao, adding that "In the very extreme case, when it encounters challenging terrain like a steep surface, it can still fly over it if necessary."
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