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DROP: the Durable Reconnaissance and Observation Platform

Aaron Parness (Robotic Platforms and Manipulators Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA)
Clifford McKenzie (Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA)

Industrial Robot

ISSN: 0143-991X

Article publication date: 26 April 2013

1461

Abstract

Purpose

The Durable Reconnaissance and Observation Platform (DROP) is a prototype robotic platform with the ability to climb vertical cinder block surfaces at a rate of 25 cm/s, make rapid horizontal to vertical transitions, carry an audio/visual reconnaissance payload, and survive impacts from 3 meters.

Design/methodology/approach

The platform uses a two‐wheel, two‐motor design that delivers high mobility with low complexity. DROP extends microspine climbing technology from a linear to rotary implementation, providing improved transition ability, increased speeds, and simpler body mechanics while maintaining microspine's ability to opportunistically grip rough surfaces.

Findings

The DROP prototype was able to climb rough, vertical walls at a speed of 25 cm/s. These wheels were also deployed on a commercial platform, the ReconRobotics Scout, and demonstrated additional mobility capabilities such as curb mounting and stair climbing.

Originality/value

This robot is the first wheeled robot to use microspine technology. Various aspects of the prototype robot's design and performance are discussed, including the climbing mechanism, body design, and impact survival.

Keywords

Citation

Parness, A. and McKenzie, C. (2013), "DROP: the Durable Reconnaissance and Observation Platform", Industrial Robot, Vol. 40 No. 3, pp. 218-223. https://doi.org/10.1108/01439911311309906

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2013, Company

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