Development of Mobility on Rough Terrain and Thermoelectric Power Generation by Burning Dead Leaves Biomass System for Energy Sustainable Robots

Abstract

Inspired by the eating function of living organisms, an energy sustainable robot that recovers dead leaves, which is one of the forest biomasses, and moves continuously with the heat of combustion is proposed. To achieve this, mobility and dead leave collection suitable for uneven terrain, ignition and combustion of dead leaf biomass, charge/discharge of thermal energy, and control of actuators are necessary. In this research, a mechanical model with two large wheels and a hand for collecting dead leaves is developed. Basic power consumption, motion of collecting dead leaves, movement on rough terrain, ignition and burning, energy consumption in continuous operation are evaluated in experiments.