RHex Tackles The Desert
Writing by Evan Ackerman on Wednesday, 5 of May , 2010 at 1:32 am
In February of 2008, we covered an RHex-type robot at Georgia Tech learning how to move through loose sand. UPenn’s Kodlab has taken one of their RHex robots out to Mojave desert to teach it how to move through desert sand and and mountainous, broken terrain.
The robot received a significant overhaul in preparation for the trip, outfitting it with sensors and electronics to collect important locomotion data, as well as designing and installing a robust shell to endure the difficult environment. A white shell made from both polycarbonate and carbon fiber greatly helped in protecting the RHex robot from the harsh desert environment during tests.
Kodlab isn’t just out there taking notes, though… The robot is programmed with algorithims that allow it to learn as it goes, adapting its gait to move efficiently over different types of terrain. RHex offers the speed of a wheeled robot with the robustness of a tracked robot, except with even more adaptability thanks to its ability to change how it moves depending on what it’s moving over.
[ Kodlab ]
Comments (3)
Category: Research
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Comment by ethan454
Made Thursday, 6 of May , 2010 at 6:34 am
I wonder if it would be able to climb that hill better if it used all of its legs and sat down on its belly (to keep it’s position) while all the legs are swinging back around.
Comment by Das
Made Tuesday, 11 of May , 2010 at 8:16 am
reminds me of the tortise that raced against the hare in that old cartoon.
Comment by Walking Backwards Issue
Made Wednesday, 12 of May , 2010 at 4:48 am
This looks like it would have Walking Backwards Issue, with the legs digging into the sand.
