 |
Jumping Microrobot 'Flea' Is Solar Powered
Flea-sized autonomous jumping microrobots may be just around the corner, thanks to research carried out at Berkeley by Sarah Bergbreiter. A micro-mechanical robot uses solar power to stretch a rubber band, jumping up to thirty times its height.
(Design of an Autonomous Jumping Microrobot [pdf] )
At the millimeter size scale, jumping can offer numerous advantages for efficient locomotion, including dealing with obstacles and potentially even latching onto other larger mobile hosts. Robot design is divided into four primary areas: energy storage, actuation, power, and control. Like its biological inspiration, the flea, a jumping microrobot requires an energy storage system to store energy and release it quickly to jump. Silicone micro rubber bands have been fabricated and assembled into the microrobot for this task. To stretch these micro rubber bands, electrostatic inchworm motors are chosen as actuators due to their high forces, long throw, and low input power requirements. Finally, solar cells and a microcontroller have been chosen to power and control the microrobot. A small-scale version of this system has been prototyped with the solar cells and a simple 4-bit microcontroller driving an inchworm motor. Separately, an inchworm motor has been demonstrated pulling and storing 4.9 nJ of energy in a micro rubber band. Finally, initial tests with a probe-loaded robot prototype have demonstrated a microrobot which can potentially jump 1.2 cm straight up.
Inevitably, this little guy makes me think of the scarab robot from Raymond Z. Gallun's 1936 classic The Scarab.
...the Scarab buzzed into the great workroom as any intruding insect might, and sought the security of a shadowed corner. There it studied its surroundings, transmitting to its manipulator, far away now, all that it heard through its ear microphones and saw with its minute vision tubes.
(Read more about Gallun's insect robot)
If leaping robot news doesn't make you jumpy (it's late), be sure to check out the Toyota Robot Leg With Bird-Like Vertical Leap or even the decorative Jumping Spider Tank Robot Tachikoma.
From Design of an Autonomous Jumping Microrobot [pdf] via Robots.net.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 4/5/2007)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 1 )
Related News Stories - (" Robotics ")
Yale Aerial Manipulator Flying Robotic Hand
Just think of all the possible uses of a flying robotic hand.
EggTorte Mini Micromouse
I really like the speed of this little learning robot.
RG3 Robotic Greens Mower Is Sensor-Equipped
This sensor-equipped mower is nimble enough to avoid gophers on golf courses.
Touch Sensor For Sensitive Robots
Honestly, who doesn't want a more sensitive robot?
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Current News
Inflatable Lofts For NASA 'Campers' On Moon And Mars
'We were in the expansion bubble when it happened.'
Artificial Kidney Prototype To Be Implantable
'George Walt's corporate existence proved the workability of wholly mechanical organs.'
Self-Healing Concrete Uses Bacteria For Healing
Building, heal thyself.
Exmobaby Biosensor Pajamas For Baby
Hush little baby, don't say a word.
Apple Live Streaming Fail
'Industry-leading' my foot.
Re Google: William Gibson, Read More SF
Especially the old stuff.
Nike's Air Kicks Back To The Future Power Laces
Marty McFly, your shoes are almost ready.
EggTorte Mini Micromouse
'Something small, metallic, glittering had shot through one of the rat holes.'
Yale Aerial Manipulator Flying Robotic Hand
Did you say helicopter hands.
M-Dress Has Phone, SIM Card And Antenna Embedded
LBD Phone.
RG3 Robotic Greens Mower Is Sensor-Equipped
Suddenly the mower stopped and clicked excitedly.
Touch Sensor For Sensitive Robots
Gently stroke, pinch and twist.
Labor-Saving Centrifuge
'I made sure my left foot was positioned for the gravistat control and watched her belly.'
Aimec Child Robot Built By Childless Couple
Supertoys last all summer long.
Murdoch To Create Digital News-Paper
Truly, a prophet of the future.
Yurina Care Robot Cure For Nurses' Strained Backs
Nurses! No more strained backs!
