The small CLARI robot can change shape to fit tight spaces and be used in disaster zones to help first responders. (Image Credit: Casey Cass/CU Boulder)
University of Colorado, Boulder engineers built CLARI (Compliant Legged Articulated Robotic Insect), a small insect-like robot with shapeshifting capabilities that allow it to move through tight spaces. The robot has a modular design featuring four legs and can be modified with additional legs. It could even be turned into a spider-like robot that climbs up webs. CLARI has the potential to revolutionize disaster responses.
However, the robot still has wires tethered to receive power and commands. It's still in the early stages, but their goal is to develop robots that can venture into spaces like jet engines or under collapsed buildings. Kaushik Jayaram, co-author of the study and an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at CU Boulder, who also designed robots inspired by the animal kingdom, challenged CLARI's robotic structure. "Most robots today basically look like a cube," he said. "Why should they all be the same? Animals come in all shapes and sizes."
CLARI squeezes through horizontal gaps, changing its width from 34 millimeters to 21 millimeters, enabling it to move and adapt. But its abilities don't stop there because the team also wants to add sensors for autonomous obstacle detection and avoidance. Research is being conducted to see how it can stay flexible and strong when integrating more legs into the structure.
CLARI's modular design, adaptability, and small size could usher in a new era in robotics. Those attributes would be particularly useful for internal engine inspection or areas hit by a disaster. "When we try to catch an insect, they can disappear into a gap," Kabutz said. "But if we have robots with the capabilities of a spider or a fly, we can add cameras or sensors, and now we're able to start exploring spaces we couldn't get into before."
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