A group of researchers has developed what looks like a first draft of the latest mascot of Star WarsBB-8.
Baptized Wheelbot and designed as a unicycle robot equipped with two reaction wheels, this first prototype can boast of being able to jump on its wheels from any position. It was designed to combine control theory and machine learning.
A reaction wheel for the ancestor of BB-8
To develop this small robot, many thinking heads from the University of Aachen and the Institute for Intelligent Systems of Max Planck have combined their efforts. The objective of this first generation Wheelbot is to provide a test platform for robotics scientists around the world.
The main challenge was to design a robot that could stand on a single wheel and move around, a feat that had not yet been achieved. Naturally, the wheel spins clockwise. To balance everything and allow the Wheelbot to move on any terrain, the motor attached to the rest of the robot turns in the opposite direction. To do this, Wheelbot is equipped with various components, some of which are 3D printed in order to limit the size.
The other challenge was of course to allow the Wheelbot to jump from any position and land smoothly. With this in mind, the researchers determined that it was necessary for the robot to display a symmetrical appearance. This allows him, after a jump, to decelerate his reaction wheel in order to complete his jump safely.
A robot for science
Beyond developing a robot standing on a single wheel and capable of jumping, a software part is essential. The teams have therefore also developed an algorithm for this purpose. The purpose of this is to estimate, in relation to the robot’s measurements, its different trajectories, on the ground or during a jump.
The ultimate objective is to develop knowledge around robotics. This discovery is indeed crucial, because it solves electronic and mechanical problems that have been rarely explored until now. The teams behind the Wheelbot believe that their little robot has enormous potential for educating future students in robotics, thanks to the truly multidisciplinary nature of the project.
But the researchers do not intend to stop in such a good way, while a new version of the Wheelbot is already in preparation. The goal of this new project is to make it even more accessible, easy to build, and therefore to test, with a more powerful micro-controller and powered by a more elaborate algorithm for better maneuverability.
As they say, you can’t stop progress, and this one is even capable of jumping on one wheel.
Source : IEEE Xplore
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