2010-01-30

The OmniTread Serpentine Robot

Clipped from: OmniTread- Snake-Shaped Robot

OmniTread- Snake-Shaped Robot




OmniTread is a snake-like robot capable of climbing high vertical obstacles such as stairs, of moving through rough terrain and of crossing over wide gaps. Developed by a group of researchers from the University of Michigan College of Engineering, OmniTread can travel along electrical conduits and inside large pipes. Thanks to its special capabilities, the robot has a variety of potential applications, such as industrial inspection and surveillance, military and intelligence operations, and urban search and rescue missions.

Clipped from: Chap 1: OmniTread


















The OmniTread serpentine robot is designed to traverse extremely difficult terrain, such as the rubble of a collapsed building.
The OmniTread can also drive over sand and rocks. It can pass through small holes and climb over tall obstacles.
Innovations:
  • Use of pneumatic bellows for joint actuation. Bellows are powerful, naturally compliant, and take up minimal space.
  • Maximal coverage of all sides of all segments with extra wide moving tracks.
  • Unique pneumatic control method allows simultaneous proportional control of stiffness and joint angles.
  • The "drive shaft spine" is powered by a single electric motor in the center segment. The spine runs through the center of all segments and provides torque to all tracks.

Clipped from: New Page 2
Sources
  1. OmniTread- Snake-Shaped Robot
  2. Chap 1: OmniTread
  3. New Page 2
  4. YouTube - Extreme mobility snake robot for rescuing
  5. Robot Snake. Real. I Am Afraid ! Omni Tread ! - Video
Related:
  1. Home -- Slide 1
  2. Cool Omnitread Snake Robot Still Slithering (Video) | Singularity Hub
  3. TechEBlog » Earthquake Strikes San Diego California Today, OmniTread Robot Deployed