MIT’s new modular lunar robot has ‘worms’ for arms
The “mix-and-match” system is made of worm-like robotic limbs astronauts could configure into various “species” of robots resembling spiders, elephants, goats and oxen. The teamthe Best Paper Award last week at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Aerospace Conference.
The system includes a worm-like appendage, which can snap together with a chassis through a twist-and-lock mechanism. Wok-shaped “shoes” can then snap onto the appendage’s other end. Finally, a small tool allows astronauts to release the block’s spring-loaded pins when it’s time to disassemble. The team has already developed a six-legged prototype, about the size of a go-cart, using software that coordinates multiple worm limbs.
As the students brainstormed solutions, they drew inspiration from the animal kingdom. “As we were thinking of these animal inspirations, we realized that one of the simplest animals, the worm, makes similar movements as an arm, or a leg, or a backbone, or a tail,” says deputy team leader and AeroAstro graduate student Michael Brown. “And then the lightbulb went off: We could build all these animal-inspired robots using worm-like appendages.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Jumping parasitic worms use static electricity to hit their targetsMillimetre-long worms use powerful muscles to jump onto their bee or fly hosts to feed. But their expert leaping may be helped by an electric attraction that pulls them to their targets mid-air
Read more »
Litter Robot 4 review: A great, but imperfect, self-cleaning litter box | EngadgetThe Litter Robot 4 is the best self-cleaning litter box you can buy today, but it still has issues..
Read more »
Volkswagen will build its first North American EV battery plant in Canada | EngadgetVolkswagen has revealed plans for its first PowerCo battery cell factory outside of Europe.
Read more »
Sony made a $600 point-and-shoot camera for the visually impaired | EngadgetSony's DSC-HX99 RNV is a device designed to make photography accessible to those who couldn’t enjoy the hobby before..
Read more »
Disney wants Google and Reddit to identify 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' leakers | EngadgetDisney wants to know who was behind the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania leak and is trying to force Reddit and Google to identify the person or group of people responsible..
Read more »