Reg’s Robotics Rhapsody

Oberon

Oberon is a world first submarine robot developed in Australia. It has just returned from its maiden voyage mapping parts of the Great Barrier reef. Oberon weighs in at 150 kg and is one of a range of autonomous machines being manufactured at the Australian Centre for Field Robotics. Oberon is unique as it is the first robot that is able to map a new environment while also keeping track of its own location. Oberon has 2 scanning sonars, a depth sensor and a colour camera and it does not need any independant information to find out where it is.

Sonar systems on ships already map the sea floor and divers are also sent down to photograph the floor. The good thing about Oberon is that it does both of these things at the same time. It is certain that the sensory part of the robot is the most important component in this robot

Deborah Smith. (2003). Undersea Robot A dual-function first. [Internet]. Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney. Available from http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/15/1065917484860.html> [ Accessed 18/2/08].

Image from same site.

Big Dog

The future of modern warfare is here. Bigdog, the robot army sherpa, can carry hundreds of pounds of gear so soldiers don’t have to and will never spook in a firefight. The Bigdod prototype was developed and created by Boston Dynamics with funding from the American military.Bigdog’s stability and awareness of its own orientation and surroundings make it the first robot ever that can handle the unpredictable challenges on the battlefield.  Big Dog is the size of a Great Dane, can run more than three miles an hour, climb inclines of up to 45 degrees, and carry up to 120 pounds-even in rough terrain not accessable to other vehicles.

The body of Big Dog is made out of a steel frame that houses a one-cylinder petrol engine that drives a hydraulic system, an onboard computer and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that uses a fiber-optic laser gyroscope and a collection of accelerometers to track its movement and position. These devices work together with Bigdog’s  legs to create its perfect gait. 

Each of Big Dog’s legs has three joints that the controller can maneuver 500 times a second by way of the onboard hydraulic system. The sensors in the joints measure force and position and the computer cross-references the information gathered with data from the IMU to work out where the legs have to be to keep the robot upright and moving in the right direction. The regulation of the flow of the hydraulic liquid to each joint, the controller perfectly places each paw on the ground in the roght direction. Big Dog also has visual equipment onboard consisting of a stereo camera and laser scanner mounted at the front of thr robot. At the moment Big Dog is remote controlled, but later versions will become more autonomous. Big Dog is scheduled to be ready for battle within the next 8 years. It is certain that the sensory part of the robot is the most important component in this robot. 

Popular Science. (2007). The Army’s Robot Sherpa [Internet]. Popular Science Magazine, U.S.A. Available from [Accessed 24/2/08].

Video from youtube.com