A Californian tech institution, Caltech, unveils its latest artificial creature. It is a small robot, the M4, able to move with a versatility never seen before.
Boston Dynamics has no monopoly on success when it comes to impressing. Caltech recently showed that it also knows its stuff when it comes to robots. Her little baby, the M4 (Multi-Modal Mobility Morphobot), is the size of a remote control car and can roll, walk or fly. It also has a relatively advanced AI, which allows it to make decisions on its own.
Versatility: the key word
The idea behind the development of this robot was to offer a machine capable of moving easily, whatever the conditions in which it finds itself. The M4 chooses its own mode of movement according to its surrounding terrain. A straight and smooth road? He draws his big wheels to move quickly. A stair ? He stands on two wheels and uses them to cross it.
Its real hidden asset, compared to other already highly impressive robots, is all its wheels which can pivot on their axis to turn into rotors. The small M4 therefore goes from terrestrial robot to autonomous drone. Not bad huh ? That’s his little Transformers side.
A wide field of application
This versatility would allow him to intervene in many situations. In a rescue situation, for example, he could drive injured people on his own by adjusting his mode of travel. Use in the space sector is also possible, as would a small rover. The M4 could very well serve as a reconnaissance auxiliary on a distant planet.
Developed by Mory Gharib, professor in aeronautics, and Alireza Ramezani, assistant professor in electrical engineering, the M4 is currently in the concept stage. Its design was strongly inspired by the anatomy of different animals, the sketches of which can be consulted on the project’s communication brochure published in Nature.
He rolls, walks and flies. He would only need a pair of hands to bring you coffee and croissants. If the M4 project develops further, it is very likely that this robot will find its usefulness in very different applications. Caltech’s project clearly pushes the boundaries of general-purpose robotics. From the little M4 to Transformers, there is only one step… or one wheel.
Sources: The Verge, Caltech, Nature
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