Feb-09-16
A new cockroach-inspired robot able to flatten to fit through cracks could have applications in exploring rubble during search-and-rescue missions.
Developed by a team from UC Berkeley, the robot, called CRAM (compressible robot with articulated mechanisms) was based on studies of the abilities of the American cockroach, which can flatten their bodies while still moving quickly. The bot, which was simple and relatively inexpensive to create, features a plastic shield similar to the wings that cover the roach’s back and legs that will splay outward when crushed while still propelling the robot in the chosen direction.
The prototype CRAM was made using an inexpensive origami-like manufacturing kit from Dash Robotics, but the team plans to create a sturdier version for use in the real world.
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