Welcome

Robot Sidebars

Hi folks, sorry about dropping off the radar for a few days, but I wrecked my back and sitting hasn’t been an option. But I’m back so let’s get back to some recent news items.

May 13th Creation Technologies announced it acquired Applied Technical Services (ATS), which expands Creation’s facilities to four countries. These include USA, Canada, Mexico and China. I suspect this not only provides Creation with resources to handle Aerospace, defense and medical but also helps ramp up to handle any companies that are bringing back manufacturing to North America. Note that this short list of industries are the most likely to bring back production. I think this is a savvy move so watch out for Creation. Now some robotic fun. The following is not a realistic demonstration of a flexible robot but its fun to watch:

Have to wonder what funding these guys at Boston University got to build and test that robot. Looks like Bob in his basement could make a better version. Anyways moving on to a more serious study of an insect like robot documented in:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/aisy.201900162

I call this the Cockroach robot or Cockbot … okay the name needs a bit of work but it does describe what it looks like if not how it moves accurately.

Figure 5 – Cockroach robot can get squashed to fit in tight spaces.

The demonstration is still a tethered robot, but they look at a unique locomotion system using an electrostatic actuator, that’s flat and can be crushed and squeeze into small spaces easily. Using two sets of limbs that deform based on using simple sine-wave formed signals to deform the legs the robot could go forwards, backwards, and turn as desired over different terrains. Different shaped legs were tested and found significantly impacted its ability to move over different terrain. The team borrowed some origami techniques to form the legs and found it helped overcome obstacles better as shown below. Robot looks a bit like a cockroach.

Figure 6 -Origami legs hep with locomotion over pebbles.

Worth a read as it offers some interesting ideas not commonly investigated. The main issue with different locomotion systems is you still need a power source to work autonomously

Cheers!