Researchers develop a lizard-like robot for Mars exploration

Researchers developed a lizard-like robot that could one day assist in future Mars missions. (Image Credit: Chen et al (MDPI, 2023)

Thanks to technological advancements, humanity is unlocking new space exploration innovations, paving the way to discoveries on planets, including Mars. The Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics researchers developed a four-legged lizard-inspired robot designed to help explore Mars' surface. This robot consists of a flexible body mimicking a desert lizard's locomotion and movements.

"To assist ambitious uncrewed missions to Mars, specific types of planetary rovers have been developed for performing tasks on Mars' surface," the team wrote in their paper. "Due to the fact that the surface is composed of granular soils and rocks of various sizes, contemporary rovers can have difficulties in moving on soft soils and climbing over rocks. To overcome such difficulties, this research develops a quadruped creeping robot inspired by the locomotion characteristics of the desert lizard."

The team's robot has four legs and a spiny, flexible structure. All the legs are equipped with a gear and two hinges, allowing it to replicate a desert lizard's swinging motion. The hip joints attached to the spine feature two servos and a four-linked mechanism that ensures the robot lifts without balance loss. Meanwhile, the feet contain four flexible toes with a claw and two hinges.

"The leg structure utilizes a four-linkage mechanism, which ensures a steady lifting motion," the researchers explained in their paper. "The foot consists of an active ankle and a round pad with four flexible toes that are effective in grasping soils and rocks."

The team also developed kinematics models for all the components to imitate a lizard's movement. After running simulations on the robot, the team discovered that it replicates a lizard's movement and walking gait.

So far, they have created a 3D-printed robot prototype that features a 12V lithium battery, servo control panel, and other electronics. Then, they ran a simulation testbed to see how it moved on rocky terrain similar to Mars's surface. The robot managed to move around rocky terrain, demonstrating potential capabilities for future Mars missions.

The lizard-like robot still needs further development before deployment and tests begin. In that case, installing a protective sealing would keep dust and soil out of the structure. The researchers are currently developing machine learning models so the robot can adjust movements based on varying terrain.

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