HyTAQ Robot - a bird in a cage
The Robotics Laboratory at the Illinois Institute of Technology presented its development: HyTAQ Robot (Hybrid Terrestrial and Aerial Quadrotor). They put a familiar quadrocopter in a wheel that resembles a birdcage.
Such an elegant solution avoids many problems. Firstly, in the rolling mode, much less energy is consumed than the quadcopter needs in flight. Secondly, all the obstacles encountered while driving on the surface, it is easy to overcome, just by flying over them. According to the developers, this technology allows to increase by 4 times the range of movement on a single battery charge, compared to a conventional quadcopter. The total operation time of the device increases 6 times.
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The robot can be used in various search operations that require high mobility and overcoming obstacles. However, it can be used outside of the Earth. Such a device would be great for exploring the expanses of Titan - the satellite of Saturn.
Previously it was proposed to study it with the help of airplanes or a boat floating in its methane lakes. HyTAQ Robot could be the optimal tool for the study of Titan, if it were possible to solve the problem with a long-term source of energy. Well, to ensure survivability in extremely low temperatures.
On Mars, too, would be useful "jumping" of such a robot. For example, when exploring its mysterious caves:
Yes, and an open surface can be a problem for ordinary wheeled robots, if you remember what happened to Spirit. But the rarefied atmosphere of Mars will not allow to realize all the advantages of the “bird in a cage”.
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Offtop. If anyone has the desire and willingness to understand and write about the details of coding for MSL Curiosity - knock on the PM. I found a lot of raw material, but I don’t have a thorough knowledge of it :)
Such an elegant solution avoids many problems. Firstly, in the rolling mode, much less energy is consumed than the quadcopter needs in flight. Secondly, all the obstacles encountered while driving on the surface, it is easy to overcome, just by flying over them. According to the developers, this technology allows to increase by 4 times the range of movement on a single battery charge, compared to a conventional quadcopter. The total operation time of the device increases 6 times.
')
The robot can be used in various search operations that require high mobility and overcoming obstacles. However, it can be used outside of the Earth. Such a device would be great for exploring the expanses of Titan - the satellite of Saturn.
Previously it was proposed to study it with the help of airplanes or a boat floating in its methane lakes. HyTAQ Robot could be the optimal tool for the study of Titan, if it were possible to solve the problem with a long-term source of energy. Well, to ensure survivability in extremely low temperatures.
On Mars, too, would be useful "jumping" of such a robot. For example, when exploring its mysterious caves:
Yes, and an open surface can be a problem for ordinary wheeled robots, if you remember what happened to Spirit. But the rarefied atmosphere of Mars will not allow to realize all the advantages of the “bird in a cage”.
______________________
Offtop. If anyone has the desire and willingness to understand and write about the details of coding for MSL Curiosity - knock on the PM. I found a lot of raw material, but I don’t have a thorough knowledge of it :)
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/164939/
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