Recently, researchers discovered an adaptive bipedal robot called "Mugatu", the biggest feature of which is that it can use only one motor to control the direction. This is considered a major breakthrough in the field of bipedal robots, and the related research was recently published in TechXplore.
Small robots have always been an important tool for investigating and inspecting small spaces, and they can maneuver around obstacles in tight spaces, an ability that large robots do not have. With this capability, they can inspect damaged construction machinery or search for the wounded in the rubble in disaster scenarios that other robots can't reach. However, due to their size limitations, it is difficult to create small robots that are capable of maneuvering and carrying their own power on their own.
Aaron Johnson, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon, and Sarah Bergbreiter, a professor of mechanical engineering, and their research team revolutionized the field with the creation of the Mugatu, the first steerable bipedal robot with a single motor. Mugatu is self-sufficient and auto-starting, with a stable gait and the ability to control left, right, and straight steering. The design uses two rigid bodies and an actuator, which is a simple walker design but still capable of completing the complex movements of other robots.
James Kyle, the study's author, said that the first direction of the project was to simplify the way robots walk as much as possible," he said, "and once we understand how scaling affects motion, it can be very useful to scale up or down what is already there to accommodate smaller pipes or carry more loads." ”
Another team member, Kendall Hart of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is responsible for the robot's current sensors, which allow the team to calculate the total cost of transportation, which is the energy consumed over a certain distance. "Before I entered the lab, I had only a vague understanding of MATLAB, a programming and numerical computing platform, but in this project, I was able to apply what I learned in class. There was a lot of debugging when we worked on implementing the current sensor, but now it gives me more confidence to debug without a mentor," Hart said.
It is understood that the goal of this team, code-named "The Lego Project", is to eventually shrink these walkers down to the size of Lego bricks. "It's going to take a while because when you start to scale down the model, everything is going to change," Hart said. "The researchers believe that the great simplification of this walking device, combined with its single degree of freedom, is a promising step towards efficient small robots.
In recent years, countries have vigorously developed small robots, although they can not bring convenience to human life like large robots, but because of their low production cost and wide range of applications, they have been widely used in various fields. From simple delivery of goods to complex industrial production, to search and rescue at the scene of a disaster, they are up to the task. We believe that with the continuous advancement of technology, we will see more creative and practical small robots appear in our lives to make our lives better.
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