Technion researchers have developed a spider robot that is capable of moving through underground cavities, pipe ways and tunnels. It can search for survivors in collapsed buildings. It can also check for and carry out control and maintenance operations on complicated and complex systems in dangerous structures such as atomic reactors.
The spider robot has many applications. Besides functioning in man-made or natural disasters, the robot could be used in space stations. And in the nano version, Dr. Amir Shapiro (designer of the robot) envisions a mini spider-robot entering blood vessels to make diagnoses, deliver medicines or conduct surgical procedures.
In the more immediate future, the robot will walk on any terrain without walls, a great challenge in the world of robotics. This type of motion is completely different and movements need to be planned accordingly to the robot's center of gravity, not just its configuration. |