In the ever-changing world of technology and retai...
Caltech’s bioinspired ‘Morphobot’ is a tiny transforming robot that can crawl, walk, drive, stand, and fly
July 13, 2023 By Awanish Kumar
(Image Credit Google)
Image credit : Yahoo Finance
Caltech has developed a new robot called the M4 (Multi-Modal Mobility Morphobot) that can change its shape to adapt to different modes of transportation. In a press release, the university compared the M4 to a Transformer, and the comparison is not far off.
[caption id="attachment_187081" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Image credit : Reddit[/caption]
Equipped with electronics, motors, and a small computer, the M4 can determine the most suitable form for its locomotion. The robot features large wheels that can swiftly transform into rotor-like appendages, enabling it to fly like a drone. It can also utilize the rotors to navigate steep slopes while the back wheels propel it forward on the ground. Additionally, if the terrain is rough or it requires better visibility, the M4 can stand on two wheels and use them as feet.
[caption id="attachment_187083" align="aligncenter" width="1240"] Image credit : Technabob[/caption]
Mory Gharib, a professor of aeronautics and bioinspired engineering at Caltech, collaborated with Alireza Ramezani, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Northeastern University, to design the M4. Their work is detailed in a paper published in Nature Communications, which includes illustrations showcasing the various forms the robot can assume and whimsical drawings of animals that inspired the project, such as meerkats and walruses. The robot is powered by Nvidia's Jetson Nano CPU, a cost-effective computer designed for robotics applications.
According to the paper, the M4 is capable of achieving eight distinct types of motion and can autonomously decide which mode to employ based on its analysis of the surrounding conditions using artificial intelligence. Gharib suggests that its capabilities could prove useful in scenarios such as transporting injured individuals to hospitals or exploring other planets.
Also read : Ottobot Yeti, an unmanned delivery robot that can deliver products without your help
Caltech has previously developed other versatile and entertaining robots. LEONARDO, for instance, is a bipedal robot with propellers for arms, allowing it to fly or maintain stability while walking, accompanied by an eerie ghost-like sound. The university has also created a drone that can transform and be launched for specific tasks.
Leave a Reply
Apple's iOS 18: A Leap into the AI Era
March 12, 2024
Google's Regular Pixel 8 Won't Get Gemini Nano AI
March 12, 2024
MacBook Air M3 Makes Amends for M2's Storage Blunder
March 11, 2024
Samsung Unveils the Galaxy M15 5G
March 11, 2024
Elon Musk's xAI to Open-Source Chatbot Grok
March 11, 2024
Contra: Operation Galuga - A Modern Run-and-Gun Classic
March 11, 2024
Musk Confirms X's TV App Arrives This Week
March 11, 2024
RELATED NEWS
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10