OmniTread serpentine robot

Scouse Monkey · 03-24-2005, 06:15 AM

Quite a neat invention. The bit on the video where is creaps through the undergrown is quite spooky.

http://www.engin.umich.edu/research/mrl/00MoRob_6.html

jjh221 · 03-24-2005, 09:04 AM

at first i didnt think it could turn, but it does. Also they need to test it with a camera and behind something. I dont see it doing really to much. But cool though.

kiltjim · 03-24-2005, 09:17 AM

What do you mean you don't see it doing much?!? Didn't you see the cable coming out the back? Its hauling a nuclear payload...

I think it needs to be slightly longer, and a little more agile, but it is extremely cool.

jjh221 · 03-24-2005, 09:21 AM

i mean i dont see a use for it. Yeah they can steer it looking at it. Id like to see them do it with just a camera mounted to it. I dont think it would be able to pull anything or carry anything.

Saab9-5 · 03-24-2005, 10:14 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by jjh221

i mean i dont see a use for it. Yeah they can steer it looking at it. Id like to see them do it with just a camera mounted to it. I dont think it would be able to pull anything or carry anything.

It can be used for a number of things:

- Inspection of the insides of pipes
- Find survivors of collapsed buildings
- If quiet enough, then surveillance where a UAV won't work
- Running cables

Just let your imagination go with it

Scouse Monkey · 03-24-2005, 10:20 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Saab9-5

It can be used for a number of things:

- Inspection of the insides of pipes
- Find survivors of collapsed buildings
- If quiet enough, then surveillance where a UAV won't work
- Running cables

Just let your imagination go with it

dammit was jsut writing that and i got distracted by work.

If it can be made autonomous and fitted with infrared (which it already has by the looks of the video with those LEDs ont he front under the camera) and things like CO2 and toxic chemical sensors it can go find people and detect harmful chemicals etc.

It can go up stairs pretty damn well which is not that common for robots.

Seth · 03-24-2005, 02:43 PM

Nature teach us the way to make robots. The next big thing will be morphomnemonic polymer strings which will simulate muscular units. Efficiency vs bulk motor design....

HostileJava · 03-24-2005, 03:27 PM

Is that cord coming out the back an antenna or a power cord? Not as useful if it can't run off an onboard battery.

jcdillin · 03-24-2005, 06:56 PM

heck I need that thing for running cat 5 cables in drop ceilings

kiltjim · 03-24-2005, 08:09 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Seth

Nature teach us the way to make robots. The next big thing will be morphomnemonic polymer strings which will simulate muscular units. Efficiency vs bulk motor design....

They have stuff called muscle wires already. They also have a bladder type mechanism that works very similarly to actual muscle tissue.

Scouse Monkey · 03-25-2005, 11:37 AM

yeah there are even muscles using nanotechnology that run on chemical fuel and are controlled by electrical impulses like our own muscles. They were designed to be bionic replacments much more powerful then our own muscles.

Saab9-5 · 03-25-2005, 04:39 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jcdillin

heck I need that thing for running cat 5 cables in drop ceilings

True, but we had more fun using this modified dart gun. It had a string attached to the end of the dart, poked your head up in the ceiling, aimed, fired, then attached the Cat5 to the other end and pulled. Similar to this one: http://www.stayonline.com/cablepulling/index.asp.

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