The Bio-inspired robotic locomotion challenge is coming to an end. What is Bio-inspired robotic locomotion??? It is a fairly new sub-category of bio-inspired design. It is about learning from nature and applying it to the real world engineering systems.
Currently, the students are designing, re-designing and perfecting their Bio-inspired robots in preparation for the challenge next Thursday! The challenge is to see which Bio-inspired robotic can move through a 2 meter track filled with rice the consuming the least amount of power.
Here are some of the latest designs and testing.
Collecting data using the TI-Nspire Calculator and a Vernier current meter.
This arm has an "elbow joint" and employs a rubber band as a tendon!
Our Biolocomotion study, using animal locomotion to move through a rice pit, has led to some interesting discussion about what is animal locomotion when translated by a bot and how to measure performance. At this point the performance indicator for our locomotion study is going to take into account three variables: time, distance and current.
All the bots will be timed as they move through 1.5 meters in the rice pit. The current data will be measured at the battery using a vernier current meter connected to a TI Nspire calculator. To get the current from the battery the students are using an in-house hack.
1. aluminum tape is attached to both sides of a piece of paper
2. a wire is connected to either side of the piece of paper
3. place this "wire" between the positive side of the battery and the NXT brick
4. connect a current meter to the wires.
The data collected will then be put into the following Performance Indicator Formula:
The C.A.P.P.S. class is going to explore the field of BIOMIMETICS. Biomimetics is the study of the structure and function of biological systems as models for the design and engineering of materials and machines. It is widely regarded as being synonymous with biomimicry, biomimesis, biognosis and similar to biologically inspired design.
The objective is to engineer an autonomous LEGO NXT robot that can travel the farthest and fastest over a rice track.