Toward Solution to Challenges of Mobility and Search Ability of Fine-Diameter Cord-Like Robots in TRC Program (Part 1)

- A Technology Brief of a Cord-Like Leading Active Mechanism Capable of Motion Maneuvering and Environment Detection -

Abstract

Technology challenges of mobility and search ability of the fine-diameter cord-like robot for disaster response are raised and open for further research and development in TRC Program. A cord-like active mechanism is proposed to be added as the leading segment to the given robot platform for solution to the technology challenges and enlargement of the robot capabilities. The cord-like active mechanism consists of a crawler-driven Active Segment and a multi-module multimodal search sensor unit, both are newly designed and developed to meet the requirements of diameter reduction and enhanced specifications. The ideas and early development results are described in this report.