The HAMR-JR microrobot is a half-scale version of the cockroach-inspired Harvard Ambulatory Microrobot (HAMR). About the size of a penny, HAMR-JR can perform almost all of the feats of its larger-scale predecessor, making it one of the most dexterous microrobots to date.

This research was focused on whether or not the pop-up manufacturing process used to build previous versions of HAMR and other microbots, including the RoboBee, could be used to build robots at multiple scales from tiny surgical bots to large-scale industrial robots.

PC-MEMS (printed circuit microelectromechanical systems) is a fabrication process in which the robot’s components are etched into a 2D sheet and then popped out in its 3D structure. To build HAMR-JR, the researchers simply shrunk the 2D sheet design of the robot — along with the actuators and onboard circuitry — to recreate a smaller robot with all the same functionalities.

HAMR-JR measures 2.25 centimeters in body length and weighs about 0.3 gram, a fraction of the weight of a penny. It can run about 14 body lengths per second, making it one of the smallest and fastest microrobots.

For more information, contact Leah Burrows at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; 617-496-1351.

Topics:
Automation Biological sciences Board-Level Electronics Command, Control, and Navigation Systems Electronic Components Fabrication MEMs Manufacturing processes Materials Mechanical Components Microelectromechanical devices Research and development Robotics Robotics Semiconductors & ICs Sensors and actuators

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    00:00:00 meet hammer harbors ambulatory micro robust hammer is inspired by one of nature's most accomplished animals the cockroach cockroaches are fast nimble and nearly impossible to kill this centimeter sized robot packs a lot of that same functionality in its small body each leg is equipped with two actuators mimicking the joints of real insects these actuators give hammer a

    00:00:32 lot of maneuverability hammer is designed to run trot bound and jump and can run about 10 and a half body lengths per second this tiny bot can carry payloads 2 times its own body weight which could be useful one day for carrying sensors and other equipment in the field like real cockroaches hammer can also climb steep inclines and fall from great heights

    00:01:03 without being injured this versatile bot could one day perform a range of applications from crawling through rubble on search-and-rescue missions to surveying dangerous environments unreachable to humans so if you see this little guy scurrying down the halls of Harvard try not to squish it [Music]

    00:01:46 you