In this research we propose a novel inchworm robot, which is composed of an Electromagnetic Oscillatory Actuator （EOA） and claws. The EOA consists of a yoke, a magnet, and a coil. The overall robot size is 12.2 mm x...In this research we propose a novel inchworm robot, which is composed of an Electromagnetic Oscillatory Actuator （EOA） and claws. The EOA consists of a yoke, a magnet, and a coil. The overall robot size is 12.2 mm x 11 mm x 9 mm （length x height ~ width）. The locomotion of the robot is achieved by different amounts of slips when the robot stretches and contracts its front leg. To realize locomotion, the working conditions were calculated theoretically and the calculated input signal was applied to the robot. The performance of the inchworm robot was evaluated experimentally with varying input voltages and frequencies. A simple op-amps based driving circuit was used to provide a square-wave input. Travel speed, average distance per step of the robot, and moving distance of the leg and body at each step were measured. The maximum travel speed was 36 mm-s-1 at 30 Hz, which validates our simple locomotion strategy experimentally.展开更多
We have created an inchworm robot capable of the two-anchor crawl gait on level ground and inclined plane. The main novelty is in the design of the inchworm： （1） three-part body that is 3D printed and actuated by t...We have created an inchworm robot capable of the two-anchor crawl gait on level ground and inclined plane. The main novelty is in the design of the inchworm： （1） three-part body that is 3D printed and actuated by two servo motors to allow a looping and lengthening action, （2） passive friction pads to anchor the feet, each of which may be disengaged using a servo motor actuated lever arm, and （3） modular body and electronics. The robot is about 2 feet （61 cm） in length, has a mass of about 4 kg, and uses an open-loop controller to achieve steady crawling gait. The inchworm robot achieved a speed of 2.54 em.sI on level ground as well as on an incline plane of 19~. The energy usage as measured by the Mechanical Cost of Transport （a non-dimensional number defined as the energy used per unit weight per unit distance moved） is 3.34. Our results indicate that simple robotic designs that copy the basic features of natural organisms provide a promising alternative over conventional wheeled robots.展开更多
By imitating the behavioral characteristics of some typical animals, researchers develop bionic stepping motors to extend the working range of piezoelectric materials and utilize their high accuracy advantage as well....By imitating the behavioral characteristics of some typical animals, researchers develop bionic stepping motors to extend the working range of piezoelectric materials and utilize their high accuracy advantage as well. A comprehensive review of the bionic stepping motors driven by piezoelectric materials is presented in this work. The main parts of stepping piezoelectric motors, including the feeding module, clamping module, and other critical components, are introduced elaborately. We classify the bionic stepping piezoelectric motors into inchworm motors, seal motors, and inertia motors depending on their main structure modules, and present the mutual transformation relationships among the three types. In terms of the relative position relationships among the main structure modules, each of the inchworm motors, seal motors, and inertia motors can further be divided into walker type, pusher type, and hybrid type. The configurations and working principles of all bionic stepping piezoelectric motors are reported, followed by a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the performance for each type. This work provides theoretical support and thoughtful insights for the understanding, analysis, design, and application of the bionic stepping piezoelectric motors.展开更多
A small resonant inchworm piezoelectric robot with six driving feet which are set evenly along the circumference is proposed and tested.A bonded-type structure is adopted to realize a small size.The radial bending vib...A small resonant inchworm piezoelectric robot with six driving feet which are set evenly along the circumference is proposed and tested.A bonded-type structure is adopted to realize a small size.The radial bending vibration mode and longitudinal vibration mode are excited at the same frequency.The superposition of these two vibration modes makes the driving feet produce elliptical motions.And the driving force can be generated by friction coupling between the driving foot and the operating plane.The structure of the robot is designed by finite element simulation.The geometric parameters are adjusted to make the resonant frequencies of the vibration modes as close as possible.The elliptical trajectories generated at the driving feet are discussed in detail.The vibration and motion characteristics of the prototype are tested,and the resonant frequencies of the radial bending mode and the longitudinal vibration mode are degenerated successfully.The optimal working frequency of the prototype is 21.5 kHz.The maximum speed of the prototype is 200 mm/s,and the displacement resolution is 0.71μm.The measured results show that the resonant inchworm piezoelectric robot can be used for fast and high-precision transportation in narrow space.展开更多
文摘In this research we propose a novel inchworm robot, which is composed of an Electromagnetic Oscillatory Actuator （EOA） and claws. The EOA consists of a yoke, a magnet, and a coil. The overall robot size is 12.2 mm x 11 mm x 9 mm （length x height ~ width）. The locomotion of the robot is achieved by different amounts of slips when the robot stretches and contracts its front leg. To realize locomotion, the working conditions were calculated theoretically and the calculated input signal was applied to the robot. The performance of the inchworm robot was evaluated experimentally with varying input voltages and frequencies. A simple op-amps based driving circuit was used to provide a square-wave input. Travel speed, average distance per step of the robot, and moving distance of the leg and body at each step were measured. The maximum travel speed was 36 mm-s-1 at 30 Hz, which validates our simple locomotion strategy experimentally.
基金This work was partially supported by the United States National Science Foundation through the grant 1566463 to P. A. Bhounsule.
文摘We have created an inchworm robot capable of the two-anchor crawl gait on level ground and inclined plane. The main novelty is in the design of the inchworm： （1） three-part body that is 3D printed and actuated by two servo motors to allow a looping and lengthening action, （2） passive friction pads to anchor the feet, each of which may be disengaged using a servo motor actuated lever arm, and （3） modular body and electronics. The robot is about 2 feet （61 cm） in length, has a mass of about 4 kg, and uses an open-loop controller to achieve steady crawling gait. The inchworm robot achieved a speed of 2.54 em.sI on level ground as well as on an incline plane of 19~. The energy usage as measured by the Mechanical Cost of Transport （a non-dimensional number defined as the energy used per unit weight per unit distance moved） is 3.34. Our results indicate that simple robotic designs that copy the basic features of natural organisms provide a promising alternative over conventional wheeled robots.
基金Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province,20220101216JC,Shupeng WangTalent Introduction Fund of Jilin University,451210330007,Shupeng Wang.
文摘By imitating the behavioral characteristics of some typical animals, researchers develop bionic stepping motors to extend the working range of piezoelectric materials and utilize their high accuracy advantage as well. A comprehensive review of the bionic stepping motors driven by piezoelectric materials is presented in this work. The main parts of stepping piezoelectric motors, including the feeding module, clamping module, and other critical components, are introduced elaborately. We classify the bionic stepping piezoelectric motors into inchworm motors, seal motors, and inertia motors depending on their main structure modules, and present the mutual transformation relationships among the three types. In terms of the relative position relationships among the main structure modules, each of the inchworm motors, seal motors, and inertia motors can further be divided into walker type, pusher type, and hybrid type. The configurations and working principles of all bionic stepping piezoelectric motors are reported, followed by a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the performance for each type. This work provides theoretical support and thoughtful insights for the understanding, analysis, design, and application of the bionic stepping piezoelectric motors.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.5210051275 and U1913215)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2021M690830)the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province(Grant No.LBH-Z21018)。
文摘A small resonant inchworm piezoelectric robot with six driving feet which are set evenly along the circumference is proposed and tested.A bonded-type structure is adopted to realize a small size.The radial bending vibration mode and longitudinal vibration mode are excited at the same frequency.The superposition of these two vibration modes makes the driving feet produce elliptical motions.And the driving force can be generated by friction coupling between the driving foot and the operating plane.The structure of the robot is designed by finite element simulation.The geometric parameters are adjusted to make the resonant frequencies of the vibration modes as close as possible.The elliptical trajectories generated at the driving feet are discussed in detail.The vibration and motion characteristics of the prototype are tested,and the resonant frequencies of the radial bending mode and the longitudinal vibration mode are degenerated successfully.The optimal working frequency of the prototype is 21.5 kHz.The maximum speed of the prototype is 200 mm/s,and the displacement resolution is 0.71μm.The measured results show that the resonant inchworm piezoelectric robot can be used for fast and high-precision transportation in narrow space.
