Robotic Cockroach: what can we expect from robotic cockroaches?

"However, their main goal - creation of the world's first robotic cockroach, which is ..." - this quote from a university press release. Wow, that's because what are the people the main goal! Jokes, jokes, and mechanical cockroaches in their heads, as it turned out, many people. They live a little, eh?

In New Zealand there is such a university Massey (Massey University). It is trained three young men with burning eyes - Digel Olaf (Olaf Diegel), Sylvester Tile (Sylvester Thiale) and Podgiter Johann (Johann Potgieter). To ensure that their eyes do not fade away, watching Professor Glen Bright (Glen Bright).

So, what does all this good company, mechatronics - the Japanese name for industry, formed by the merger of general and electrical engineering.

Merging in unison is, we should understand well, after four announced the creation of robotic lawn mowers.

The main advantage of this device makers the ability to control call over the Internet. What have they done to her yet - Strongly unclear. They took a lawnmower Swedish company Husqvarna, which is called the Auto Mower, and this cutter for grass by itself is not a stupid thing, and it seemed like something to be improved.

Briefly about the Auto Mower. The perimeter of the lawn enclosed with wire, which mark the boundary area for mowing - leave the territory it has no Roman law. Semikilogrammovaya Auto Mower, although it squints at random, but does it honestly, around obstacles, she knows how to roll on the charging and so on. Whether we kosilschikami lawns - gnawed to the elbows - $ 1,5 thousand.

The point is also that robotokosilka designed not simply on the basis of Auto Mower, and commissioned by Husqvarna - general manager of the company, David Boyd (David Boyd) said that he could not miss the chance to support the study of New Zealanders: "We are still world leaders in production of every kind garden equipment, and our collaboration with the inventors opens new avenues for consumers. "

	At Harvard, too, do the robot cockroaches.

In general, the New Zealand quartet added Husqvarna'vskoe product of its obscure mechatronics, and they were all happy. Well, if so, then let them understand themselves: Auto Mower-it was created not even the day before, and article with us about robotic cockroaches. Those gentlemen from Massey University set out to dam every home by 2020.

Robotic cockroaches (Robotic Cockroach) in New Zealand after 18 years of that kind will be masters of all trades, or what they have there instead of hands would be: "Robot cockroach will assume most of all the household chores. He will be vacuumed, mow lawns, wash dishes, floors and windows, as well as about making the bed. " In short, the mechanical marvel is the antipode of the insect.

However, it is clear that the robot will be artfully arranged: from the "cockroach of the mother" would crawl "cockroaches-children" who will be engaged in any business small things. After five years (from 2007) New Zealand enthusiasts are going to release the first such robot on the market, and in 2020 a robot cockroach come to you.

We seem to have mentioned that the robotic cockroach dream, not only in New Zealand. Robot cockroach length of 4 feet (1 meter and 20 centimeters) is constructed in the laboratory of the University of Illinois (University of Illinois Coordinated Science Laboratory - CSL) in conjunction with the Institute name Backman (Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology). Here's the proof.

Message is called "CSL is developing a cockroach, which you can fall in love:" The oldest and in everyday use the image of the robot - it is a kind of jerry cans on wheels, like R2D2 from Star Wars. "But walking robots have many advantages in front of rolling robots.

For example, they can step over obstacles. That is why the various research centers across the country build a biped and quadruped robots, "- says a professor from CSL Narendra Ahuja (Narendra Ahuja), who with his team working on a six-legged mechanical creature.

Robot cockroach from Illinois.

The American cockroach robot has a pair of short front legs, a couple in the middle, which keeps the weight, and a couple from the rear for propulsion. For more resemblance to the original insect consulted with physiologists. The robot still sees nothing - sensors in the manufacturing process.

When everything is ready, cockroaches will be the unenviable rabotenka - its going to send and to Mars, and the North Pole - in a word to the maximum extreme - "it is in any better than to find these cockroaches in his kitchen," - joke makers.

While we're laughing, it was found that the Office of Naval Research United States (Office of Naval Research - ONR) has long funded major program, called Biomimetic Robots. In this case, biomimetika - it is an imitation of living organisms, a sort of mimicry machines (Biomimesis: to mimic life, to imitate biological systems).

The purpose of the program "is that, possessing the necessary biomechanical understanding, to create a robotic roach that is appropriate for autonomous action in unstructured environments."

It turns out that in biomimicheskoy program involving such institutions as Stanford (Stanford), Berkeley (UC Berkeley), Harvard (Harvard) and Johns Hopkins (Johns Hopkins). That Stanford portion of the program, that's Harvard, but how do we know about it.

Robotic cockroaches started at Stanford.

Quote: "Unlike conventional robots, which act very slowly, but accurately, robotic cockroach will move more like a bug: fast, but a bit messy.

Constructed on the basis of studies of insects robots will be able to emulate their structural dynamics, and simple management strategies. They will be able to overcome impassable terrain at high speed. "

What happens? That's right - robot cockroaches for military purposes. Names for combat cockroaches invented relevant - Biobot, Protobot and the like. So, one building cockroaches for washing dishes, while others - those that "we will be able to love, and the third (and maybe all together) - for the war. All, as usually happens with cockroaches: "swallow, swallow, no mercy."

Octopus: Octopus Robot Feeds the Tactile Sense

Establishment of mobile robots able to operate on rough terrain, not an easy task. The main problem - recognition of obstacles. The drive is the same (wheels, tracks, hands and feet) - a question secondary. One way of orientation, move to the touch, is still undervalued.

Over the decades, that people build such devices, which just does not come. Mainly designers use cameras, infrared and ultrasonic sensors.

Here, engineers are generally closed in captivity of the human course of action: see, imagine what kind of object, figure out how to get around.

Meanwhile, to perform a specific range of tasks the machine is not necessarily directly copy human functions.

A couple of years ago, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) has created a very original robot Octopus ("Octopus").

However, the robot logically be called "Osmikolesom" as to recognize the obstacles he uses sensitive wheel, of which the robot exactly eight pieces.

Inside each wheel are hidden 16 infrared sensors, which measure the deformation of the tire caused by contact with soil, stones and other objects.

In fact, this system acts as a tactile sensor.

The oddest thing - sensors are installed so that they remain motionless until the tire rotates around them.

The tire rests its edges into two separate rings, rotating on bearings with seal. Sensors is actually installed on the hub.

Thus, the robot can always determine the location of obstacles in space, as though feeling them. For "lower" contact sensor is always lower and remains.

Wheels attached to the system of levers, also fitted with engines. They allow the machine to not only roll, but to walk.

This involves the ability of the device during lifting of the obstacles.

Although the machine apparently did not look like an octopus, whose name it is called, its way of movement resembles the action of this marine animal.

First, the octopus feels stones, just as it does a robot. Secondly, wanting to get taller, throws the octopus tentacles on the front obstacle, and then tightens the body, then picks up the rear "feet".

Similarly, Octopus, when the front wheel feels a wall, picks it up, while shifting forward until the second wheel touches the step.

Then, the robot continues to rise, acting engine "hands" and "forearm" so that the front wheel followed the profile of the landscape and would reach the horizontal section.

Then the machine starts to catch up. Weight at this point the robot is distributed only between the outer wheels.

Interestingly, the program that controls the robot, allows it to assess the seriousness of the obstacles and select the "storm" or search crawl.

Moreover, as emphasized by the Swiss, the only equation that must be met to achieve balance machine - the equation of torque in relation to its various axes.

This relatively simple mathematical problem allows you to "sew up" management program in a relatively simple chip that can cope with the problem in real time.

We are far from that in developing this machine on, EPFL has made a revolution in building robots for rough terrain.

However, in a variety of variations of the idea of autonomous mechanisms of tactile wheels, in our opinion, deserves mention not only as a curiosity, but also a revival in some other designs.

Maybe it is that technology as a complement to other sensors, not enough participants DARPA Grand Challenge, to safely finish the race over rough terrain?

But, somehow, on tactile sensors for robots, is now spoken by only applying to "iron" the hands or feet of humanoid machines.

Built a robot for operations for the Space Station

At the Jet Propulsion Laboratory NASA (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) hexapod robot created for the independent movement of the outer casing of the space station for repair and inspection of construction works, also able to help the inhabitants of space at home and inside.

We have once told you about this project when he was only reminded by no more than technical "entertainment." Now, however, LEMUR is a more serious practical interest, as a new generation of robots in this series received significant innovations in design.

To give flexibility, stability and functionality to address the project manager engineer Brett Kennedy (Brett Kennedy) and his colleagues decided to combine the capabilities of this technological "miracle" of particular movements of the octopus, crabs, primates and ... jackknife.

Each of the limbs includes mounting hardware that will diagnose problems and perform other necessary operations. Maximum flexibility of the robot is provided and due to free rotation around its body axis, limbs, fixed in place, but because there is no gravity in space, LEMUR can be retained on the surface of the station just one limb.

In experiments carried out in terrestrial conditions, the robot showed impressive tricks: Turn the bolt in the darkness, flashing his flashlight, and even wrote with a fountain pen. And during spaceflight LEMUR could not only assist astronauts (both outside plant and inside it), but further and climb the rocks on other planets.

Space Robots Borrow Spiders Building Joints

Scientists Carlo Menon (Carlo Menon) from the Advanced Concepts Team of the European Space Agency (ESA Advanced Concepts Team) and Cristian Lira (Cristian Lira) from the Technological University of Kaunas (Kaunas University of Technology) have created a miniature manipulator Smart Stick on the "explanation" of the device and the spider legs believe that it will prove useful for future space robots.

These spiders, robots (including - for use in space) is not a novelty, but now drive their legs spider is different from the original system. The authors also new work (it was published in the journal Bioinspiration and Biomimetics) suggest that in some cases it makes sense to try to copy the spider's legs almost literally.

Unlike normal animals, the legs of spiders are driven not by muscles, and "hydraulics." Rotation joints manages fluid (hemolymph) filling the body of a spider (and joints), in which the spider can create something or other pressure.

Menon and Lira have designed and built a miniature junction, which turn "legs" provide a microscopic camera that separate sections (see picture in the header). The pump delivers the liquid in the chamber, and built-in pressure sensors provide for control feedback.

In contrast, hydraulic pistons, there is virtually no friction surfaces, the design (in theory) must bear a good tight space conditions - vacuum, temperature extremes, radiation.

But most importantly - the manipulator and the joint turned out not 1 millimeter wider (almost like a real spider's feet) and at the same time - quite strong. A perfect correlation between size, weight and power of such a system, its creators believe, should be very useful in constructing miniature robots.

One joint Smart Stick provides the angle 1,8 degrees, but the number of joints, arrayed in series, will allow the robot arm to bend in any direction, and quite strongly.

On a similar principle should work and products, which designs Lear in his project "fabric with a variable structure" (Variable Structure Fabric - VSF). In his book, miniature hydraulic actuators, with sensor feedback and control electronics, such a system Smart Stick, can be embedded in clothing, car seats and interiors to help reduce fatigue man, long time working, sitting behind the wheel and so on.

Space robots - a new grand project of NASA

NASA and the company "General Motors" reported the launch of a new project, under which will be developed a new generation of robots and robotic technologies that will be suitable for use in outer space and aviation industry. NASA says that the new generation of robots will be working literally side by side with people in critical situations.

Under the signed agreement on cooperation in space, in the heart of NASA in Houston, is the creation of a new humanoid robot, equipped with the most advanced video and sensor technologies.

In the future, such robots will have to manage to reach outer space, as well as assist pilots in aircraft control. Now here is created a robot Robonaut-2 or simply R2, which is more flexible and technologically advanced version of the robot Robonaut-1, previously created by engineers at NASA.

A distinctive feature of R2 is that the robot during its operation continuously focused on people and can carry with them a given project.

According to Doug Cooke, deputy director of research programs of NASA, in the long term a significant part of the orbital and service work in outer space, NASA plans to place it on the robots.

But simply to shift the new challenges to existing development is impractical because they do not have the specified parameters.

You must create a new generation of machines, which would have advanced management systems, new sensors for environmental assessments and more perfect intelligence, "he says.

In the GM said that Robonaut 2 - this is the first in the family robot, able to be flexible enough to perform a variety of work in orbit and on Earth.

Russian robot shoots from 3 weapons

The exhibition INTERPOLITEX-2009 was presented to the Russian robot is able to shoot right out of the three types of weapons. The robot can attack infantry, fortified buildings and even tanks.

Mobile robot "MRK-27 - BT is designed for combat operations when the life of a soldier at risk. The system can replace a man during a fight, say its creators.

Combat robot complex consists of a whole arsenal of weapons: two jet "flame thrower" Bumblebee ", two grenade launchers, machine guns" Pecheneg, six smoke grenades and 100 rounds of ammunition.

All weapons are placed without any modification. Soldiers can "give up" its weapons to the robot, or removed and used independently.

The machine is controlled remotely - at a distance of 200 to 500 m. In addition to the weapons complex comes equipped with a camera that allows the operator to conduct aimed fire.

Russian design has several advantages over foreign counterparts. Thus, compared with U.S. robots Swords (they were used in Iraq and Afghanistan), our more stable - due to a special coupling system tracks the ground. Foreign cars make a strong return after a shot, while the national development is minimal. Battle of the Russian platform robot moves in almost all directions, the machine gun barrel can "see" in the trenches of the enemy. American robot, though able to climb stairs, less mobile, RIA Novosti reported.

NASA launched the long awaited solar tracker

Apparatus to study in detail the atmosphere of light and its internal structure, which will help scientists better understand the processes occurring in the Sun (illustration NASA). February 11 at 18:23 Moscow time specialists Goddard Space Center (Goddard Space Flight Center) has successfully sent into space Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) - new generation of satellites designed to observe the Sun. The new apparatus, the first of a series of planned NASA Living with a Star "(Living With a Star), waited a long time - to launch a satellite should have been a few years ago, but for different reasons, the event all moved away.

During this time, the current guardian of solar activity - the satellite SOHO - managed to order poiznositsya and into space were launched twin STEREO, have repeatedly passed on the unique information.

As reported in the relevant section of the project, to conduct scientific observations in SDO, there are three basic tools: Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), which allows to monitor the magnetic fields on the solar surface, Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) - camera to monitor the atmosphere light and the research its in different ranges, as well as the production of images that the surface of the Earth can not be done, and finally the Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) - this unit will deal with measurements and survey of ultraviolet activity of our own star.

Into orbit "sunny" satellite carrier rocket lifted Atlas V, launched c spaceport at Cape Canaveral (photo NASA TV).

Every 10 seconds, 24 / 7, these devices will take off the sun in different spectra at high resolution and with different positions, which will get the picture 4 times clearer than HDTV. SDO will also be responsible for the supervision of the so-called convection zone, to map the ionized gas emission from the star's surface and examine the coronary loop, resulting in periods of high activity. To Earth data will be transmitted at 130 megabits per second, and typed on the day of the order of 1.5 terabytes.

It is assumed that a new space telescope will work in orbit for at least 5 years, during which SDO will study the details of the 11-year solar cycle and will provide data on the connection between solar cycles and a number of phenomena on the surface of our planet (Photo NASA / Jack Pfaller).

Helicopter-robot sighting dropped cargo parachute

JPADS saves lives of pilots, typically at risk in the supply of goods army units on the front (photo by Lockheed Martin). To deliver medicines, food or ammunition, without human intervention - in a fully autonomous mode - and throw them at a given point location is now possible with the development of companies Lockheed Martin and Kaman Aerospace. Combined high-precision landing system (Joint Precision Airdrop Systems - JPADS) created on the basis Kaman K-MAX, ability to lift loads of about 3 tons (sea level).

But the helicopter rare, by the way, such as partners turned into an unmanned robot.This unit acts as a remote control and autonomously, referring to the testimony of satellite navigation. By the drones have added rope with four driven hooks. For each can be hung on one box with one-time Army cargo parachute, worth only $ 375. Such parachutes (withstands up to 270 kg), and now American troops are used in hot spots of relief supplies, but so far only manned spacecraft.

JPADS same program can deliver the boxes to the desired location and release up to four different loads individually (including - at various points), and almost simultaneously, with heights of 90-120 meters. Such a device instead of a landing vehicle for unloading should improve survival drone in combat conditions.

The test system consisted of 11 flights, was successfully held in late April in Bloomfield, in Kaman. It engineers from two aerospace companies aided by specialists from the U.S. Army research center in Natick (NSRDEC), who stated that "the results exceeded expectations" (photo by Lockheed Martin). Future tests JPADS, Lockheed Martin said in a press release will include the dumping of goods from bolshih heights and coordinated action of several robots in a converted K-MAX.

Boeing introduced the most powerful Hydrogen UAV

Environmentally friendly intelligence - is not only a tribute to the "green fashion". Hydrogen - the high-energy fuel, designed to maximize output per unit of weight (photos Boeing). The new reconnaissance aircraft from the U.S. Boeing Corporation is able to survive in the sky, without landing and refueling of four days.

New named Phantom Eye. It's pretty big for a UAV unit - the scope of its wings is 45.7 meters. He climbs to a height of nearly 20 kilometers and remains there up to 96 hours at a time. Its cruising speed is 278 km / h, and the payload (camera, communication systems) attains the weight of 204 pounds.

At the presentation of news in St. Louis, Darryl Davis (Darryl Davis), president of Boeing Phantom Works, said: "Phantom Eye - the first of its kind. It can open new markets for data collection and communication" (illustrations by Boeing). Phantom Eye - not the first nor the second hydrogen drone, but the most powerful and lifting. The company Boeing, by the way, a couple of years ago created the world's first manned flight to the fuel cell. The new machine is capable of providing image forces anywhere in the world where the "ghost eyes" may come on their own, starting from the territory of the continental U.S.. This same unit will serve as relay conversations between the individual combat units.

Phantom Eye - not the first nor the second hydrogen drone, but the most powerful and lifting. The company Boeing, by the way, a couple of years ago created the world's first manned flight to the fuel cell.

The new machine is capable of providing image forces anywhere in the world where the "ghost eyes" may come on their own, starting from the territory of the continental U.S.. This same unit will serve as relay conversations between the individual combat units.

Later this summer will be a Phantom Eye Research Center Dryden (NASA Dryden Flight Research Center), where he will prepare for the first flight scheduled for 2011. Already the first test flight will last 4-8 hours.

The Second Generation of Military Exoskeleton

New suit allows its owner to carry in hand or on his tens of kilograms of cargo, without apparent effort, and break his hand clasped together four woodenboards. The latter, of course, conspicuous foolhardiness - in a close fight anyone in this attire is not going to. But engineers have created a powerful exoskeleton, plans to eventually introduce this novelty into the army. Recently the company Raytheon introduced the second generation of its military exoskeleton, called XOS 2. In carrying and loading heavy one operator in a robotic suit replaces the three soldiers - according to developers amazing machine. And most importantly, unlike a number of similar developments, XOS 2 can work out the movement of the owner rather swiftly to wearing a suit the operator did not feel squeezed inside a very strong, but tight-thinking and leisurely glands. Subtlety responses suit-machine enables even play it with a soccer ball.


On the first exoskeleton built by Raytheon and absorbed her company Sarcos (start development), we described in detail. We recall only that the robot-suit the owner keeps track of the movement, strengthening them dozens of times. As reported today in the Raytheon press release, the second XOS stronger and faster than its predecessor, but uses 50% less energy and also more resistant to adverse environmental effects. And the new exoskeleton weighs 88.5 kilograms, is 10% less than the first model - tells Salt Lake City Tribune.

As conceived by Raytheon, the soldiers in the exoskeleton greatly accelerate and facilitate the loading and unloading of water, fuel and ammunition in the rear, and the theater of operations. Ability to single-handedly move the tank shell or air missiles means that more people can transfer to other tasks - says American innovators. At the presentation of XOS 2 in lab in Salt Lake City, Clark Gregg, who played in two parts of the movie "Iron Man" agent Phil Coulson, he tested the exoskeleton in action. "At the moment he most brings us to the suit Iron Man - shared his impressions of the actor. - He is fast becoming a reality, and it's wonderful. I look forward to the appearance of XOS 3. Interestingly, the public presentation of the first XOS in 2008, was clearly timed to coincide with the screens of the first "Iron Man", though officially this is not mentioned. Now, Raytheon, who invited Gregg, I do not hide suggest themselves associations. It is no coincidence the publication of the XOS 2 "successfully" coincided with the release of Iron Man 2 on DVD and Blu-Ray.

First XOS showed everyone, and especially by the authors of the system that it is efficient. Given the experience, Raytheon dropped force to optimize the design from a skeleton and ending with all the sensors and actuators. As a result, managed to increase the energy efficiency of the robot.

Limbs of this suit, by the way, drives a hydraulic pressure. But supply is still located outside the machine, so that the real Iron Man is bound to the stationary equipment with long cables and hoses. However, even in such a similar suit could benefit, and later the engineers are going to fully "decouple" the exoskeleton. In the next clip creators XOS 2 talk about him and the whole project in more detail.


Vice-President of Raytheon Sarcos Fraser Smith (Fraser Smith) said: "The deployment of exoskeletons inevitable. They are urgently needed, and I believe the military look to them as a viable solution to several current issues." The authors explain the costume that much physical strain on soldiers in all kinds of transport and storage operations are not only negative point, reducing the rate of work, but also an extra risk factor, a potential source of injury. Power suit could alleviate these problems. In the future, Raytheon engineers do not exclude the hardened and armored versions, designed to break the walls and doors in operations to rescue hostages. This modification was on the drawing boards, but still focus on "commercial" ipostazi of the project - says Engadget.

However, the audience was constantly the main question - "since when?" When people try on clothes iron men? Raytheon intends to bring his project to implementation. "We expect that exoskeletons will appear on the theater about five years tied version, and perhaps three to five years after that - even in stand-alone option," - says Smith. Given the still decent power consumption in such a suit, it remains to ask: does the company find a way to create palladium "arc reactor"?

Robot-dove - Spy XXI-st Century

Engineers dream to send a reconnaissance robot pigeon (Bogolub). If the experts would still be able to realize all his fantasies, we are waiting for an interesting future.

Sutnikovaya intelligence is not omnipotent, and can sometimes lead to errors. Ideal output to many military with mobile robots, spies on the ground and in the air. And that enemy is not seen through them, the developers are trying to mask the mechanisms by fauna.

For reconnaissance aerial engineers have long been developing a variety of mechanisms, including those who are able to operate independently and sometimes amazing intelligent. But best of all, the robot does not just fly into if necessary, in some buildings, but also not to arouse suspicion when viewed casually.

That's for the sake of this, seemingly utopian possibility of the defense department has invested heavily in research laboratories AFRL. Is said by experts, their objective - the establishment of a full-fledged smart drone the size of a pigeon, the most common birds in urban areas.

The interim result of the efforts - custom by Theiss Aviation company from Ohio instance - the developers have demonstrated recently at an air show in Florida: it is indeed very similar to the bird, at least when viewed from a distance. With the natural prototype of the device is similar not only in size and proportions, but also the details: a beak, a simple imitation of feathers and tail, which is hidden propeller.

The engineers are committed to as early as 2015 to design a more approximate to the model of the robot and the dove boldly touted as its future characteristics of the ability to fly autonomously for a week with minimal intervention.

Bogolub should repeat the motion of birds - and even flap their wings to sit on the wire. The latter is necessary (that already sounds quite fantastic), allegedly, not only for camouflage but also to recharge the battery (thought, note, not new, this same laboratory VVC said three years ago, and things there.)

Theiss Aviation company specialize in all kinds of aircraft are small, but they skate - mechanisms that mimics a bird.

In addition to problems directly associated with exploration, wonder-bird sample in 2015 should be able to detect the presence in the vicinity of weapons of mass destruction of all types (nuclear, chemical and biological). How exactly - not specified.

Should recognize that while the project looks like a dove electromechanical air lock, and save the project only support a government that is configured as a time very seriously.

Given the already spent money, we can say that the designers have no choice but to five years on, to show the public something more interesting of the current version is actually a doll. If the idea of a robot-dove is successful, it will be a solid step forward in biomimetike.

Much less than robo-birds, the chances of being discovered in insects spyware. In this area of development gone far enough. For example, experts from the laboratory of microscopic robots Harvard (Harvard Micro-robotics Lab) three years ago took off prototypes of robots "based on insects, but now the same laboratory develops electronic" Bees "spies".