DIGbot
DIGbot is a hexapod climbing robot under development by Luther Palmer and Eric Diller. DIGbot's name comes from its utilization of Distributed Inward Gripping (DIG) to generate adhesive forces.
DIG allows robots to climb on surfaces of any orientation with respect gravity, including ceilings, or in zero gravity environments.
DIGbot will be driven by 19 servomotors which will allow the robot to execute complex climbing manuevers such as turns and transitions from vertical to horizontal climbing at any angles.
DIGbot gripping statically in the vertical position. 2/2/09
DIGbot gripping statically while inverted on the ceiling. 2/2/09
The following video shows DIGbot's first steps.
1/28/09
DIGbot.wmv (6Mb)
DIGbot.m4v (13Mb) Opens with Quicktime.
Below is a video of DIGbot performing vertical climbing. In the first two clips, DIGbot performs several steps with slight assistance from me for attachment and detachment of spines.
I'm applying slight pressure toward the screen to keep the robot from falling backwards. However, in the final clip DIGbot climbs without any assistance.
2/18/09
DIGbot2.wmv (9Mb)
DIGbot2.m4v (17Mb) Opens with Quicktime.
Below is a video of DIGbot performing inverted climbing at an angle of 45 degrees.
4/6/09
DIGbotinverted.wmv (4Mb)
DIGbotinverted.m4v (7Mb) Opens with Quicktime.
Below is a video of DIGbot climbing with compliant feet. The feet allow the spine angle to remain constant with respect to the screen. DIGbot is able to perform turning maneuvers on a vertical surface.
4/13/09
CompliantFeet_vertical1.wmv (6Mb)
CompliantFeet_vertical1.m4v (7Mb) Opens with Quicktime.
Below is a video of DIGbot climbing untethered. Control is performed using the onboard computer and power is from onboard batteries.
Before taking each step, DIGbot detects whether or not each foot is achieving proper inward gripping force. If it is not, DIGbot resets the foot in question and searches for a better hold. While this slows the climbing process, it ensures that DIGbot achieves reliable climbing.
6/24/09
1stSBC.wmv (10Mb)
1stSBC.m4v (22Mb) Opens with Quicktime
Below is a video of DIGbot climbing inverted. Notice in step number 3 that the front foot has a difficult time finding a foothold. DIGbot waits until it searches and finds one.
4/29/09
full_inverted.wmv (7Mb)
full_inverted.m4v (12Mb) Opens with Quicktime.
DIGbot climbs on everyday surfaces, such as a telephone pole, tree trunk and vertical carpet. Different foot designs are used for each surface. In this video, gripping force is used as feedback when climbing the pole and tree. However, on the carpet, DIGbot demonstrates its ability to climb without any feedback.
9/8/09
natural_1.wmv (10Mb)
natural_1.m4v (20Mb) Opens with Quicktime.
Publications:
- Luther R. Palmer III, Eric D. Diller, Roger D. Quinn (2009) "
Design Aspects of a Climbing Hexapod ," Int. Conf. on Climbing and Walking Robots (CLAWAR '09), Istanbul, Turkey.
- Luther R. Palmer III, Eric D. Diller, Roger D. Quinn (2009) "
Design of a Wall-Climbing Hexapod for Advanced Maneuvers," Int. Conf. on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS '09), St. Louis.
- Eric D. Diller (2009) "
Design of a Biologically-Inspired Climbing Hexapod Robot for Complex Maneuvers," M.S. Thesis.
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