Microrobots*

The goal of this project is to create tiny mobile robots. Mobility is important in a number of sensor applications, including searching, inspection, and monitoring in hard-to-reach or dangerous places. Mobility can come from flying (see Fearing Robotic Fly project) or walking. Shown below are two projects, two older and one recent, in this area. The top left picture is a micro-rocket shown firing and generating thrust; this could be used for flying. The top right picture is an early attempt to build a walking robot. The six legs are articulated like an insect. The bottom left picture, from 2003, shows the first working device. This 3 millimeter by 8 millimeter microinsect is powered by the blue-and-gold solar cell at the left of the device. The legs are at the opposite end. A close-up of the legs is shown in the bottom right picture. The two legs move up and down, so the device can effectively only do pushups, but it does work as designed, and with more legs could move itself. In the bottom right picture the two "feet"are at the left, and through a sequence of levers and hinges (legs and joints) are connected to the linear comb drives at the right.
*This project is not officially supported through CITRIS funds, but the faculty and topical affiliations are sufficiently strong that it is listed here for referral and convenience.