Crawling robots are advantageous in overcoming obstacles. These robots have characteristics such as light weight and outstanding mobility. In case of large robots, they have difficulties passing narrow gaps or entering the cave. In this paper, we propose a milli-scale hexapedal robot using 4-bar linkages. Two conditions are necessary to enable efficient walking. In short, the trajectory of the foot must be elliptical, and the lowest point of the foot should be the same. These conditions are satisfied with a novel leg design. The robot has a pair of three legs and the legs are coupled to operate simultaneously. Each set of the legs are installed to robot’s both sides and the legs satisfy the equal lowest foot point and elliptical trajectory. As a result, this hexapedal robot can crawl with 0.56m/s speed.

본 논문은 서버기반의 다양한 게임 프로그램과 연동시킬 수 있는 물리적 환경의 엔터테인먼트 로봇을 설계하고 제작하는 과정을 소개한다. 본 연구에서 개발된 6족 로봇은 PC 프로그램에서의 통신과 인식기능을 통해 하드웨어를 원격 제어하는 능력과 주변환경을 감지하여 자율적으로 보행하고 자극에 반응하며 다양하고 재미있는 상호 작용을 보여주는 기능을 갖는다. 6족 지능형 이동 로봇은 다양한 보행 및 회전, 이동 속도 조절 등의 이동 능력과 다양한 센서를 이용한 장애물 회피, 위험 상황 인식, 경사보행, 장애물 영역의 인식 및 추적 등의 기능을 갖는다. 로봇의 안정된 보행을 위한 모터의 제어방법, 센서 및 영상인식을 통한 로봇의 환경인식, 그에 따른 로봇의 지능적이고 능동적인 대응, 감지된 환경정보를 신속하게 무선통신을 통해 필요한 서버의 제어 명령자에게 전송하는 방법 등을 구현하였다. 한 다리에 3 자유도를 가진 18관절 6족 로봇으로 구현되어 비평탄 지형에서도 안정된 보행구현은 물론 다양하고 부드러운 동작을 취할 수 있으며 강력한 구동 능력을 위해 디지털 슈퍼토크 서보모터를 사용하였고, 위험 상황 인식을 위해 3축 가속도 센서, PIR(초전)센서, 불꽃센서, 연기센서, 적외선, 초음파 거리감지 센서, 조도센서, 터치센서, 온도/습도 센서, 음성인식 센서와 카메라를 통한 영상인식 등을 센서 융합에 의해 구현함으로써 상황인식의 정확도를 높이고 PC 또는 물리적 환경에서의 게임 진행시 위험을 조기에 예측하여 명령자에게 전달하는 에이전트 역할을 수행하도록 설계되었다.

Legged locomotion has high mobility on irregular surfaces by touching the ground at discrete points. Inspired by the creature’s legged locomotion, legged robots have been developed to explore unstructured environments. In this paper, we propose a modular crawler that can easily adjust the number of legs for adapting the environment that the robot should move. One module has a pair of legs, so the number of legs can be adjusted by changing the number of modules. All legs are driven by a single driving motor for simple and compact design, so the driving axle of each module is connected by the universal joint. Universal joints between modules enable the body flexion for steering or overcoming higher obstacles. A prototype of crawler with three modules is built and the driving performance and the effect of module lifting on the ability to overcome obstacles are demonstrated by the experiments.

Inspired by small insects, which perform rapid and stable locomotion based on body softness and tripod gait, various milli-scale six-legged crawling robots were developed to move rapidly in harsh environment. In particular, cockroach’s leg compliance was resembled to enhance the locomotion performance of the crawling robots. In this paper, we investigated the effects of changing leg compliance for the locomotion performance of the small light weight legged crawling robot under various payload condition. First, we developed robust milli-scale six-leg crawling robot which actuated by one motor and fabricated in SCM method with light and soft material. Using this robot platform, we measured the running velocity of the robot depending on the leg stiffness and payload. In result, there was optimal range of the leg stiffness enhancing the locomotion ability at each payload condition in the experiment. It suggests that the performance of the crawling robot can be improved by adjusting stiffness of the legs in given payload condition.

A small and lightweight crawling robots have been actively studied thanks to their outstanding mobility and maneuverability. Those robots can navigate into more confined spaces that larger robots are unable to reach or enter such as debris and caves. In this paper, we propose a milli-scale hexapedal robot based on planar linkage design. To make this possible, two necessary conditions for successful crawling are satisfied: thrust force from the ground and aerial phase while running. These conditions are achieved through a newly developed leg design. The robot has a pair of legs and each leg has three feet. Those feet alternatively moves based on 1DOF planar linkage. This linkage is installed at each side of the robot and finally the robot shows the alternating gait and aerial phase during running. As a result, the robot runs with the crawling speed of 0.9 m/s.