Switchblade Climbs Stairs With Movable Mass
Writing by Evan Ackerman on Friday, 21 of August , 2009 at 3:40 am
Back in February, we posted about a robot from the UCSD Coordinated Robotics Lab called iLean. iLean climbs stairs by climbing up its own body, shifting its center of mass from the bottom of one stair to the top of another. This is one of those things that’s futile to explain, so just go watch the video. Anyway, UCSD’s Switchblade robot uses the same basic principle of movable mass to climb and balance, except it does the obvious thing and alters its center of gravity by locating its battery packs out on a rotating boom:
I think it’s an exceptionally cool idea to take advantage of batteries in this way. Many robots use battery packs located close to the ground to passively stabilize themselves, but it’s a brilliant idea to use the heaviest and bulkiest parts of a robot to actually enable motion. Next up for Switchblade is the addition of extendable segments to the boom arms, as well as some manipulators to let it, you know, do stuff.
[ UCSD Coordinated Robotics Lab ] VIA [ Physorg ]
Comments (2)
Category: Research
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Comment by Zool
Made Friday, 21 of August , 2009 at 4:27 am
I like how these track based robots are now using Segway style balancing on the tracks so they can stand up. I noticed this same ability on that cool looking BEAR robot this week. (i.e. this one) http://www.botjunkie.com/2009/08/21/bear-robot-can-lift-500-pounds-has-cute-ears/
So how long before we have full sized tank robots that can stand up! :)
Come to think of it, combining this balancing with a Ripsaw MS1 would be a jaw dropping ability (although its way scary enough without it). (If you’ve never seen the Ripsaw MS1 here’s a short video of it, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlcenWPzsUU …Apparently its designed by two brothers and they really know engineering. For example, they have created an amazing track suspension system on it. Its one of the most incredible and scary robots i’ve ever seen … imagine it racing towards you!).
Comment by Jason Maurice
Made Saturday, 24 of April , 2010 at 9:27 am
Those boat look great, I love to go to the sea in a boat thanks for the article.
