Insect robot

German scientists have developed a six-legged robot to study the insect's delicate movements.

Discovery , an insect-inspired, six-legged robot, was designed by researchers at the University of Bielefeld in Germany and named after Hector. In order for Hector to be born, the team used a new elastic driver, simulating muscle movements.

Each bearing is equipped with sensors, electronic controls, a dedicated processor and an inductive coupling - all driven by biometric-based algorithms. This allowed Hector to respond through bending, buckling during impact or interaction with humans.

The outer skeleton of the insect robot is made of lightweight but lightweight carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) and accounts for only about 13% of the robot's total weight of 12kg. However, a robot nearly 1 meter tall still has the capacity to carry twice as much weight as its body. One test showed that the robot could carry a load of 30kg with a deformation of less than 0.3cm.

Capillary body design allows scientists to easily relocate and install special sensors for different studies. For example, a multi-directional camera for proximity-to-distance operation can easily be swapped with a tactile antenna to better match the immediate surroundings.

Hector's control program operates on the same principle of intelligent response to stimuli discovered in the insect brain. A special unit processes the acquired information and connects the robot's movement to the control system.

The inventors of Hector intended to further develop this robot's ability to learn and plan. That will allow it to navigate in unfamiliar territories and actively perform exploration missions.