A six-legged robot resembling an insect and a legless segmented robot resembling a worm (see figure) have been proposed as prototypes of biomorphic explorers  small, mobile, exploratory robots that would be equipped with microsensors and would feature animallike adaptability and mobility. Biomorphic explorers and related concepts have been described in several previous articles in NASA Tech Briefs, the most relevant being "Biomorphic Explorers" (NPO-20142), Vol. 22, No. 9, (September 1998), page 71 and "Earthwormlike Exploratory Robots" (NPO-20266), Vol. 22, No. 6, (June 1998), page 11b.

Depending on the specific environment to be explored, a biomorphic explorer might be designed to crawl, hop, slither, burrow, swim, or fly. Biomorphic explorers could be used for such diverse purposes as scientific exploration of volcanoes, law-enforcement surveillance, or microsurgery. Another potential use for biomorphic explorers is detection of antipersonnel mines; there is a pressing need for robots that could be deployed in large numbers to detect antipersonnel mines left on and in the ground after armed conflicts. The proposed six-legged robot would be designed with a view toward that application. There is also a need for burrowing robots that could search earthquake rubble for survivors; the proposed vermiform robot would be suitable for this purpose.

Robots That Look and Move Like Small Animals would be developed for use in a variety of exploratory tasks. Six-legged robots could be developed into a mass-producible, mass-deployable units to search for antipersonnel mines. Legless robots similar to the one depicted here could burrow in earthquake rubble to search for survivors.

The proposed six-legged robot would be capable of traversing various types of terrain. The legs would be attached to a main body at shoulder ball pivots. Rotations at the shoulders would result in translations of the feet. The legs would feature telescoping segments that could be lengthened or shortened to suit the direction of motion and the terrain. For example, the legs could be shortened to obtain greater mechanical advantage for climbing, or lengthened to increase speed in level or downhill travel over smooth terrain. The legs would be tipped with footpads that could be configured to suit the terrain. For example, a scissorlike arrangement of footpad members would be use on hard terrain (e.g., rocks), while the footpad members would be spread out to form a larger contact area on soft terrain (e.g., sand). The legs and footpads would be actuated by springs paired with shape-memory-alloy (SMA) wires; within each actuator, the spring would pull or push in one direction, while the SMA wire would pull in the opposite direction by an amount that would be changed momentarily by passing a momentary electric current through the wire to heat it momentarily above its shape-memory transition temperature.

The proposed vermiform robot would be capable of both anchored rectilinear motion similar to peristalsis and a transverse motion, based on the motions of Amphisbaenia - a legless order of reptiles that burrow with notable efficiency. The anchored rectilinear motion would be effected by anchor modules that would look like cones paired base to base. Within each anchor module there would be a pistonlike assembly actuated by pairs of springs and SMA wires. The assembly could be actuated to either (1) shorten the module longitudinally and expand the outer cone radially to anchor in the wall of the burrow or (2) lengthen the module longitudinally and retract the outer cone from contact with the tunnel wall. For example, suppose that all anchor modules were initially in the minimum-diameter, maximum-longitudinal-length configuration. The foremost module could be expanded radially to anchor the head end, then the next module could be expanded, and so forth, in sequence from front to rear. The longitudinal shortening accompanying the radial expansion of each module would draw the trailing modules forward.

The anchor modules would be connected by collars of a flexible material in which SMA wires would be embedded at multiple circumferential positions. The SMA wires would be oriented longitudinally. The wires could be energized selectively to bend the collar; in this way, part or all of the robot body could be arched.

In both robots, artificial neural networks would receive inputs from sensors and would respond by issuing commands for the SMA actuators to effect complex combinations of motions to achieve the overall lifelike mobility. Artificial neural networks were chosen for this application because they appear to offer the maximum potential for achieving a desired combination of capability for learning, adaptability, fault tolerance, composability (ability to smoothly integrate various primitive motions into complex motions and other activities), and generality to enable application to future biomorphic explorers.

This work was done by Sarita Thakoor, Brett Kennedy, and Anil Thakoor of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. NPO-20381

Topics:
Automation Automation Biological sciences Data Acquisition Data acquisition and handling Neural networks Research and development Robotics Robotics Sensors Sensors and actuators Springs Suspension systems Terrain
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Insectile and vermiform exploratory robots

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    NASA Tech Briefs Magazine

    This article first appeared in the November, 1999 issue of NASA Tech Briefs Magazine (Vol. 23 No. 11).

    Read more articles from the archives here.

    Overview

    The document outlines the development of biomorphic exploratory robots, specifically focusing on two prototypes: a six-legged insect-like robot and a legless segmented worm-like robot. These robots are designed to navigate various terrains, making them suitable for applications in scientific exploration, surveillance, and humanitarian missions, such as detecting landmines and searching for survivors in disaster-stricken areas.

    The six-legged robot features a mobility system with six legs, each equipped with two degrees of freedom at the shoulder joint, allowing for versatile movement across different surfaces. The actuation mechanism utilizes shape memory alloy (SMA) wires and cantilever springs, enabling efficient movement while minimizing power requirements. The design includes a reconfigurable foot that adapts its shape based on the substrate, providing optimal grip on both hard and soft surfaces.

    The document emphasizes the importance of four key components for the realization of these robots: microsensors, micropower systems, advanced mobility, and microcommunication devices. While advancements in microsensors and solid-state batteries are driven by commercial markets, the development of advanced mobility systems remains a focus of this research effort. The robots are designed to be small, lightweight, and cost-effective, making them suitable for a range of applications, including military and geological surveys.

    The biomorphic explorers are envisioned as low-cost, scalable, and tetherless mobile robots, with sizes ranging from a few centimeters to several hundred cubic centimeters. They are tailored for specific tasks, such as anti-personnel mine detection, and are expected to operate in challenging environments, including underwater and hazardous volcanic areas.

    Overall, the document highlights the innovative approaches being taken to create adaptable and efficient robotic systems that can perform complex tasks in diverse environments. The integration of advanced technologies and biologically-inspired designs aims to enhance the capabilities of these explorers, paving the way for future applications in various fields, including environmental monitoring, disaster response, and military operations.