12 June 2014
Just when
you think you know about all of DARPA’s “legged-robots,” another one pops
up. Or, in this case, climbs up the wall
beside you and “surprises” you.
RiSE V1
The RiSE
climbing robots, though certainly platforms for the development of future
technology, are themselves prototypes designed for field operations and
testing. The RiSE six-legged
(“hexapodal”) robots are designed to walk on level ground, but their “claim to
fame” is the ability to climb up vertical surfaces.
RiSE V1
With DARPA
funding, “RiSE V-1” was principally designed by Boston Dynamics with “input”
from the collaborative consortium including Stanford University, Carnegie
Mellon University, U.C. Berkeley, and Lewis & Clark University. With six legs and two motors, the V1’s vertical
climbing abilities were tested on less than smooth surfaces such as a “carpeted
wall” and a tree trunk.
RiSE V2
The next
generation, the RiSE V2, extended the range of “climbable” surfaces. Like its predecessor, this ‘bot could climb
natural, outdoor, vertical surfaces including trees. But, unlike its predecessor, the V2 could
also climb the sides of buildings. The
“body” of the V2 was made larger to hold its power supply, i.e., battery
packs. Because the V2’s had a larger
foot mechanism, the body was also made longer with the insertion of “spacers”
to allow more clearance for the movement of the ‘bot’s “feet.”
RiSE V2 & RiSE V3
Described
as having a “dramatically different gait,” this newest “climber” uses its legs
in a different way to, not just to be able to climb poles, but to be a “rapid” pole
climber. Climbing at a bit over 8.5
inches per second, this ‘bot moves up those poles fast.
RiSE V3
But the
continuing development of this ‘bot is aimed at getting it off the byroad and
back onto the main drag. There are two
other objectives of the V3’s on-going development. This ‘bot (1) needs to be able to walk (or
run) as fast on flat ground as it does when climbing poles; and (2) need to be
able to climb flat walls and other vertical surfaces as well as its “ancestor,”
the V2.
The RiSE
robots take there place among the ever-increasing number of DARPA’s “bioinspired” robotic projects. The terms “biomimetics” or “biomimicry” have
been widely adopted to describe any technology imitating (copied from)
nature. But, in some contexts,
biomimicry is more of a necessity than a choice. If you want robots or drone
vehicles that work in a particular way, and the only known example of such
performance is a biological organism, you’ll either have to imitate the
organism or forget the project altogether.
See also: LittleDog Does it First
See also: LittleDog Does it First
Thursday 12 June 2014
GCLM5444HOxenia
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