Researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder have developed a tiny robot called mCLARI with legs.
It is able to change its shape by getting into very tight spaces. Its length is 20 mm and its mass is 0.97 g, which is 60% shorter than the length and 38% lighter than the mass of the original CLARI. Yet despite its small size, mCLARI retains 80% of its control power.
The mCLARI has a square carbon fiber body and 4 legs that are connected to each other via 8 piezoelectric actuators. A paiResearchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder have developed a tiny robot called mCLARI with legs. r of actuators with a five-hinged spherical linkage as transmission control the operation of each leg. The leg modules are interconnected by an elastic material that allows for flat movements, allowing lateral deformation of the mold. The mCLARI is powered via cable tethers, which limits its use in real search and rescue operations.r of actuators with a five-hinged spherical linkage as transmission control the operation of each leg. The leg modules are interconnected by an elastic material that allows for flat movements, allowing lateral deformation of the mold. The mCLARI is powered via cable tethers, which limits its use in real search and rescue operations.
The mCLARI robot moves at a speed of 3 times its length per second. As it moves, it bends and contracts as it passes through tight spaces and around sharp corners. The robot changes its shape as it changes direction to navigate its way through the most challenging environments.
A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of mCLARI. The robot was tested on a variety of surfaces, and it was found to move fastest on rough surfaces. It also easily squeezes through narrow areas that are smaller than the size of the robot's body.