BIOINSPIRED HARDWARE Erki Suurjaak Overview bioinspired hardware - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

BIOINSPIRED HARDWARE

Erki Suurjaak

Overview

• bioinspired hardware
• NASA’s exploration systems
• robots Ariel and RHex
• future?

Bioinspired Hardware

• studies processes and

mechanisms in nature

• seeks alternative

hardware design and implementation

Bioinspired Hardware: Results

• biomorphic robots

– mostly insectlike

• computer vision

– navigation – shape recognition

• more efficient design for mechanisms

– seed pod fliers – adhesive surfaces: beyond velcro

NASAs Biomorphic Explorers

• mobile platforms useful for exploration
• Bioinspired Engineering of Exploration

Systems (BEES)

• idea: many small biomorphic explorer

machines

Bee-Inspired Vision & Guidance

• amazing results with a handful of neurons
• simple and effective hazard avoidance
• compound eyes give panoramic vision
• simple landing with minimal computation

Dragonflies See the Horizon

• additional eyes (ocelli) see a short spectrum
• UV and green input combined together
• result: correct attitude detected

BEES: Seed Wing Pod Fliers

• plant inspired payload distribution
• 20 cm wingspan
• load around 60 grams
• simpler and smaller than parachutes
• slower descent than

parachutes

• 2x smaller shock on

impact than parachutes

Other Bio-Inspired Robots: Ariel

• movement inspired by crabs
• capable of negotiating

terrain unaccessible for wheeled machines

• capable of underwater

movement and resisting wave impact

The Robot Hexapod RHex

• cockroach-inspired
• so far, unsurpassed robotic

maneuverability

• speed up to 3 meters
• a possible candidate for Mars 2007

Geckos: Beyond Velcro

• geckos walk on walls and ceilings
• a leg can support the entire body
• use weak intermolecular attraction
• 1,000,000 setae lift ~20 kg

Future?

• bio-inspired materials continue to pop up
• swarms of fast-maneuvered robots in

helpful tasks