CaseCrawler scampers over to a wireless charging pad whenever it’s placed on a desk. (Image Credit: SNU BioRobotics Lab/YouTube)
Until now, we usually wouldn’t expect our phone to get up and scamper over to a wireless charging pad when we need it. Roboticists from the Biorobotics Laboratory at Seoul National University have developed CaseCrawler, a smartphone case with little robot legs that allows a phone to crawl to a wireless charging pad.
CaseCrawler is bulkier than the standard cellphone case, but it’s still not much bigger than chunky battery cases. The smartphone case is 16 millimeters thick and weighs 22.7 grams. It should be noted that this case is actually a robot, and it’s not optimized to be used as a phone case. It could also be more thin and well-built. For instance, it contains a small battery that likely wouldn’t be needed if it used the phone for power instead.
The technology in the case is pretty remarkable since it contains a set of fully retractable legs, and it can support a considerable amount of weight. The legs contain a knee joint, enabling it to bend one way. To propel the robot forward, a linkage (attached to a motor via the gearbox) pushes the leg back against the ground while the knee joint keeps the leg straight. As it moves in the opposite direction, the legs fold and act passively, so they don’t exert force on the ground. The transmission that delivers power from the gearbox to the legs is light and thin, measuring just 1.5 millimeters thick, but it’s still pretty powerful.
CaseCrawler is capable of carrying a payload of 300 grams, which is 13 times its body weight. This is big enough to carry an average smartphone, which is less than 200 grams.
Since it’s not capable of steering, CaseCrawler skitters in just one direction, and it doesn’t have any intelligence of its own. Its clever design allows it to overcome smaller obstacles in its path by crawling over them.
In the future, the team plans on adding autonomy to the case. Additionally, the smartphone it’s hauling could be equipped with sensors and other smart technology to help it navigate around areas like a desk without falling off the edge.
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