Rat moustaches for robots

Rat moustaches for robots
01/12/2006 | Elhuyar
What the whiskers of the robot touched and then the mathematical model made the image.
J.H. Solomon & M.J. Univ. by Hartmann/Northwestern

In the world of sensors that are placed on robots has taken a step forward. Two mechanical engineers from the University of Evanston of Illinois wanted to imitate the mechanism of rat whiskers in a robot.

Rats do not have a very demanding vision and moustaches are very useful to make a mental image of the environment in which they live. When the moustaches touch an object, they move and the movement is transmitted to the base of the moustaches. This movement of the base is the information used by the rat and from there they have developed the mathematical model of movement and designed a robot.

The robot is basically a spinning bar. The bar has been added four whiskers in a row and a motion sensor at the base of each mustache. Once the sensor data is collected, the mathematical model will represent what is touched by the moustaches.

The robot can have different uses. Among other things, placing them at the bottom of the exploration vehicles, I could know the surface that underlies, which would greatly facilitate the journey.

1.
226
2006
Description
Venezuela
Robotics
News in brief
Services
Babesleak
Eusko Jaurlaritzako Industria, Merkataritza eta Turismo Saila