EP.3 SPIDERMAN GETS SOME ROBO-COMPETITION WITH WALL-CLIMBING ROBOT
Wall-climbing robot, strawberry robo-picker, a technology that helps to navigate the robots and much more!
Robot revolutionizes wall-climbing, just like Spiderman 🕷️
VertiGo is a highly innovative wall-climbing robot that has been developed in collaboration between Disney Research Zurich and ETH. This robot is equipped with two tiltable propellers that provide thrust onto the wall, as well as four wheels. Two of these wheels are steerable, while the other two provide stability. The robot is able to transition from the ground to the wall and back again, thanks to the two degrees of freedom provided by each propeller, which allows for precise adjustment of the direction of thrust.
One of the key features of the robot is its ability to move quickly and agilely on a wall. The use of two propellers, rather than just one, enables the robot to make a smooth transition from the ground to the wall and back again. This is achieved by applying thrust both towards the wall using the rear propeller and in an upward direction using the front propeller, which results in a flip onto the wall.
In addition to its impressive wall-climbing abilities, the VertiGo robot is also able to navigate over indentations and other obstacles. This makes it ideal for use in a variety of urban and indoor environments, where it can navigate through tight spaces and over difficult terrain with ease.
Your new best friend in strawberry farming 🍓
The Berry robot is a highly advanced automaton designed specifically for the efficient harvesting of strawberries. This robot utilizes a range of advanced optical and robotic technologies to scan, select, weigh, and package strawberries with precision.
One of the key features of the Berry robot is its ability to navigate autonomously through greenhouse environments. This includes traversing pipe rail systems and switching rows without human intervention. The robot is also equipped with a cargo capacity of up to 20 kilograms, allowing it to operate for extended periods without requiring human assistance for tasks such as battery or crate changes.
Overall, the robot represents a major advancement in the field of agricultural robotics. Its advanced technology and autonomous capabilities make it an ideal solution for strawberry harvesting, helping to increase efficiency and reduce the need for human labor.
The ultimate inchworm-type robotic arm
As the demand for development/construction tasks in space is increasing, the requirements for robots in space are becoming diverse and complex. GITAI has responded to these needs by developing the GITAI IN1, an inchworm-type robotic arm equipped with “grapple end-effectors” on both ends of the arm.
It enhances the performance of two different types of features: “Capability”, to perform multiple tasks, and “Mobility” which enables it to move in any direction. It can also connect and disconnect itself among different vehicles, such as rovers, landers, satellites, etc.
In collaboration with the already announced GITAI R1 lunar rover, the GITAI IN1 has successfully completed various tests corresponding to Level 3 of NASA's Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) in a simulated lunar environment at the JAXA Sagamihara Campus.
Robotics term of the week
SLAM - Simultaneous Localization and Mapping
SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) is a technology that enables a device to create a map of its environment and to determine its own location within that map in real-time. It is a fundamental capability for autonomous systems, as it allows the device to navigate through its environment and understand its surroundings.
SLAM algorithms typically use a combination of sensor data, such as from cameras, lasers, and inertial measurement units (IMUs), to estimate the device's location and to build a map of the environment. The device can then use this map to navigate through the environment and localize itself within it.
These lgorithms are an important component of many autonomous systems, such as self-driving cars, drones, and mobile robots, as they allow the system to understand and navigate its environment in a robust and efficient manner. They are also useful for applications such as virtual and augmented reality, where they can be used to track the movement of a device and to update the virtual environment in real-time.