A fast-moving robot modeled after a cockroach can now perform acrobat-like flips that mimic the movements of both cockroaches and geckos while escaping predators. The robot, named Dynamic Autonomous Sprawled Hexapod (DASH), may serve as a model for small, highly mobile search-and-rescue robots that can assist first responders.
The 10-cm-long, six-legged DASH had already been developed by the University of California, Berkeley's Biomimetics Millisystems Laboratory, including a winged version for studying wing-assisted running. It can move at 15 body lengths per second. The new research was conducted by a team from the same lab, together with researchers from the University's PolyPEDAL Lab, led by professor Robert Full.
Although smaller animals don't move as fast as larger ones in terms of absolute speed, smaller animals can take advantage of better maneuverability partly because of their smaller scale, the researchers say. When running to escape a predator, both cockroaches and geckos can quickly swing under a ledge in a 180-degree flipping motion that the researchers describe as "pendulum-like."
High-speed 180-degree flips performed by a cockroach (a), a house gecko (b), and the cockroach-inspired DASH robot (c). (Source: PLoS ONE)
To analyze these movements, the team recorded geckos and cockroaches running quickly up an incline toward the edge of a ledge. Then they digitized the creatures' motions and generated a simple model to generalize their movements.
In an article published in PLoS ONE, the team says, "Both species ran rapidly at 12 to 15 body lengths per second toward the ledge without braking, dove off the ledge, attached their feet by claws like a grappling hook, and used a pendulum-like motion that can exceed one meter-per-second to swing around to an inverted position under the ledge, out of sight."
To simulate the movements that geckos and cockroaches made by using their claws, the team equipped a DASH robot with small Velcro hooks attached at the end of its hind legs. Researchers also attached Velcro to the bottom and top sides of the ledge to create points for pivoting and holding.
The researchers have started to develop both active and passive designs for bio-inspired claws to replace the Velcro hooks. They point out that robots have been designed to either run or climb, but not do both, or to transition from one surface to another. By quantifying acrobatic behavior in small animals, they say, small robots like DASH could soon become more mobile and able to make those transitions.
I suppose one should get excited about the idea of copying the agility of a roach and this is definitely a very cool development, but ... Why do all these robots seem to borrow traits from such disgusting creatures. I was getting creeped out just watching the robot's movements. Reminded me of a bad horror movie, or wose, one of my old apartments in college. Yuck!
I agree, Beth - while the technology is cool, talking about how it imitates roaches is not exactly a good marketing strategy, at least from my perspective. Makes me want to grab a shoe and squash it!
I'm with you two: ecchh! But that's only my response to the bug part. My response to the robot part was: wow! And the second and third videos in the sequence, of the gecko and the DASH robot, aren't nearly as creepy. Although the DASH robot's movements are very close to a cockroach's.
Congrats on another wonderful article about taking abilities in the natural world and incorporating them into robotic technology. The video really says it all. Also, it's nice to see a development outside of military research.
Thanks, Rob. I found it especially interesting that nature had solved the same problem in a similar way in both a reptile and an insect. It's true that this DASH is aimed at first responder apps, but there's usually a lot of crossover between those and military apps for reconnaissance and surveillance activities. But I agree, it's good to see technology adapted to multiple uses in both civilian and military arenas.
Also, this maneuver is particularly interesting. It nearly defies gravity. I'd be interested to know whether they solved this by the quick swing of the cylindrical physical movement or whether there was some mild adhesive in the "foot" that kept both the creature and the robot from falling.
After I got over my initial desire to run and scream "Phil, come kill this bug!" I was wondering the same thing, Rob. I bet it is a combination of the two...
It was quite something to see in the video, the mition that seemed to defy gravity. In all three instances, there seemed to be a velocity in the turn that seemed to keep the creature or robot from spinning off altogether. So perhaps the trick has to do with motion.
That is very cool, what good is it? Could they make them 500% bigger? That could come in very handy. (i dont know what but i could probably thik of something)
I'm also curious about the size issue. The robots in the video are definitely too small to do much of anything beyond creep us out. I'm assuming the design is scalable and transferrable to a more robust version.
I can see the use of these robots for surveilance in military situations. I can also see these robots as the eyes and ears in collapsed buildings after an earthquake.
I think that could come in very handy Rob. Wouldnt they get stuck though? like what if they slipped of of something very slippery, how would you get at them?
I suppose in an emergency situation, you would lose some of these little guys. But I would also guess deployment would involve a number of these robots to create an accurate picture of what's around the corner or under rubble.
It would take a lot of these robots if you wanted to do it quickly, If they did not cost very much to make then it wouldnt be very much of a problem if you lost one.
This makes me want to cry. I'll bet $100 that this was somehow funded by our bankrupt govt.
Even REAL cockroaches seem to get stuck on their backs (feet up) which makes it much easier to spray them with Raid and they have had a million years to perfect themselves. Hell we can't even make a lawnmower (see previous article) that works properly.
How is it that Honda can make a human that walks on two legs and goes up and down stairs and serves food and all we can come with is an F-ing cockroach.
I don't care how well it scurries around in the dark. I'm tired of sending my (very hard earned) tax dollars to bureaucrats to develop cockroaches.
Would someone PLEASE publish an article of somekind that doesn't piss me off.
I'm pretty sure it's both. The story mentions Velcro hooks to give the robot a landing point underneath the ledge, and that helps explain how it attaches under the ledge in the video.
I agree with you Rob this is a nice article. I really enjoy reading the R&D robotic type articles and viewing the videos. Maybe I have missed it, but I was wondering where can I find article(s) that show the next step for these inventions? In other words, we get to see the robotic in its next phase where it moved from development at a college to either use in consumer or military applications?
That's a very good question, Gsmith120. With the military robots, I would guess that a lot of the applications are held secret. As for search and rescue in the non-military world, a robot application was recently used to help defuse apartment of James Holmes.
Ann: I'm beginning to worry that all the mimicry that you've been writing about is going to result in a class of robots that will incorporate all the best capabilities of bugs and animals. In a hundred years, I don't think we'll be able to beat robots at anything. At the very least, this is fodder for a great sci-fi movie.
"We have the technology. We can make him better than he was. Better...stronger... faster."
Before you know it people will be performing the same acrobatics. Of course, that would require some structural reinforcement due to limits of the human bone structure, but they did it with Wolverine in X-Men. It seems like some of the things seen in movies over theyears are starting to become more and more of a reality, and it's kind of scary.
I just saw a movie that might qualify for the big bug/worm/whatever-kind-of-critter-nightmare sci-fi flick: Prometheus, the Alien prequel. Come to think of it, I guess all the Alien movies could qualify.
Yes, I heard that was a good movie. Not sure what it has to do with robots that can move like lizards, but maybe there is something we can learn from the imaginary aliens.
I'm picky too, and I thought Prometheus was fabulous, in visuals and concept. There are a few script stupidities, and some plot holes, but who cares? Ridley Scott does it again.
My fave Ridley Scott movie is, and probably always will be, Blade Runner. I have to say, though, that I think Prometheus is up there higher than any of the Alien films.
As my favorite Ridley Scott movie, I'd have to pick the first Alien movie. He didn't direct the other ones, and there were not as strong. I have to get around to seeing Prometheus before it leaves the big screen.
Dozer789, it's for search-and-rescue ops. But see Chuck's comment above yours. Chuck, see Dozer789's. Looks like you guys will be having nightmares soon. I mean, really: a world over-ridden by robots that look like bugs and worms and crabs and whatnot, some of them (gulp) 500x the size of bugs? All kidding aside, that does sound like a movie script.
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