18:20 22 February 2007 NewScientist.com news service Tom Simonite
A modular robot that transforms itself into different shapes in order to walk, crawl and clamber up inclines has been demonstrated in the US.
Its makers claim the flexible bot should be able to negotiate a wide variety of terrain and hope one day to send it on missions into space.
Each "Superbot" module is effectively a robot in its own right. The modules can move independently, flip over and rotate like wheels, and have 3D accelerometers that let them know their precise orientation.
The six sides of each module can dock with any other module. Once connected, the modules can communicate, coordinate shape changes and even transmit power.
Different styles
"Superbot consists of Lego-like, but autonomous, robotic modules that can reconfigure into different systems for different tasks," says Wei-Min Shen at the University of Southern California, US. For example, he says centipede-like movement could be used for burrowing while rolling like wheel would be a more efficient way to travel over long distances.
The robotic modules coordinate activity using their own sensors and those on other modules. To roll, for instance, each module must monitor the accelerometers inside other modules. They must all coordinate their movement so that its combined circular shape flexes itself correctly and moves forward.
Thruster modules
The team say Superbot could eventually make the perfect companion for astronauts based on the Moon or elsewhere in space. A few extra modules fitted with cameras or rock samplers would let a Superbot perform a variety of useful tasks.
One Superbot has already been used to carry a camera around on Earth and shoot its own video. Small thrusters could furthermore create "devices that can fly in a micro-gravity environment," Shen says.
Previous modular bots have experienced co-ordination problems, and sometimes require special modules to attain particular shapes. By giving each module greater physical flexibility, Shen says Superbot should be able to assume a wider array of shapes and travel along more efficiently.
Superbot was presented at the Space Technology and Applications International Forum 2007, held in Albuquerque, US, last week.
started by York Jong on 28 May 07
標題: [News] Superbot：可任意變形的模組化機器人
時間: Sun Feb 25 16:08:05 2007
Superbot：可任意變形的模組化機器人
Modular robot's wriggles show greater flexibility
http://www.newscientisttech.com/article/dn11238
美國展示了一款模組化的機器人，由於它們的彈性，將來有可能被送到太空
中執行任務。Superbot 模組的外型就像是一個個獨立的立方體機器人，每
個模組可以獨自移動、翻轉或像車輪般旋轉，每個模組本身都有三維加速度
計，可以知道當下的方向。立方體模組的每一面都可以像樂高積木那樣，依
照任務需求相互連結，一旦連結之後，模組之間都可以彼此通訊、協調、互
動，甚至模組之間，還可以將本身的能量互通有無。這套機器人是由南加大
的 Wei-Min Shen（http://www.isi.edu/~shen/）所領導的團隊開發的。
18:20 22 February 2007
NewScientist.com news service
Tom Simonite
A modular robot that transforms itself into different shapes in
order to walk, crawl and clamber up inclines has been
demonstrated in the US.
Its makers claim the flexible bot should be able to negotiate a
wide variety of terrain and hope one day to send it on missions
into space.
Each "Superbot" module is effectively a robot in its own right.
The modules can move independently, flip over and rotate like
wheels, and have 3D accelerometers that let them know their
precise orientation.
The six sides of each module can dock with any other module. Once
connected, the modules can communicate, coordinate shape changes
and even transmit power.
Different styles
"Superbot consists of Lego-like, but autonomous, robotic modules
that can reconfigure into different systems for different tasks,"
says Wei-Min Shen at the University of Southern California, US.
For example, he says centipede-like movement could be used for
burrowing while rolling like wheel would be a more efficient way
to travel over long distances.
Videos show Superbot travelling in a variety of different
arrangements. It can climb ropes
(http://www.isi.edu/robots/superbot/movies/Feb2007/ropeclimber.wmv，10MB, wmv format), roll like a wheel
(http://www.isi.edu/robots/superbot/movies/Feb2007/rollingtrack1.wmv
，2.4MB), inch along like a caterpillar
( http://www.isi.edu/robots/superbot/movies/Feb2007/beach-caterpillar.wmv
，19MB), climb slopes (http://www.isi.edu/robots/superbot/movies/Feb2007/climbcreek.wmv
1.62MB), and even walk like a humanoid (http://www.isi.edu/robots/superbot/movies/Feb2007/walker1.wmv
，7.9MB).
The robotic modules coordinate activity using their own sensors
and those on other modules. To roll, for instance, each module
must monitor the accelerometers inside other modules. They must
all coordinate their movement so that its combined circular shape
flexes itself correctly and moves forward.
Thruster modules
The team say Superbot could eventually make the perfect companion
for astronauts based on the Moon or elsewhere in space. A few
extra modules fitted with cameras or rock samplers would let a
Superbot perform a variety of useful tasks.
One Superbot has already been used to carry a camera around on
Earth and shoot its own video. Small thrusters could furthermore
create "devices that can fly in a micro-gravity environment,"
Shen says.
Previous modular bots have experienced co-ordination problems,
and sometimes require special modules to attain particular
shapes. By giving each module greater physical flexibility, Shen
says Superbot should be able to assume a wider array of shapes
and travel along more efficiently.
Superbot was presented at the Space Technology and Applications
International Forum 2007, held in Albuquerque, US, last week.
--
＠,
~ \ Bigfish
--
┌─────◆程式設計樂園◆─────┐
│ CSZone.kkcity.com.tw │
└──《From:* 》──┘
--