We are proud to announce that we are working on a project with the title "Hybrid bionic locomotion concept for Lunar exploration applications" for the European Space Agency - ESA. The main objective of the project is to research the requirements and design a concept of hybrid locomotion powertrain system based on bionic principle. Hybrid locomotion powertrain system would consist of minimally 3 modules connected with central axis. The powertrain system needs to be able to support each locomotion system independently.
Remotely operated vehicles have experienced great progress in the last decade both in terms of technological advances and areas of application. Synergy with other technical fields, where great breakthroughs have been made (such as machine learning and machine vision), represents a great potential towards automated solutions. The ultimate goal of this development is to enable fast, accurate, efficient, remotely operated or fully automated remote operated vehicles.
Robotic systems used for space exploration missions have only one main locomotion system which enables them to move over challenging environment regarding the surface conditions, space radiation, temperature gradients and vacuum with emphasis on achieving required friction driving force due to the lower gravitational field (Moon) comparing it to the Earth.
System locomotion is based on movement of the worm and/or caterpillar, in other words creep. The length of two modules will be able to contract and expand, due to the elastic connection between them, which can move the body forwards by alternating between one immovable and one movable module. Motion presented should be able to achieve movement in environment where friction force is lower due to the lower gravitational field. This is INETEC’s second project with ESA in the last month and it is the fourth mutual project overall, which we are pleased to cooperate on once again. More information coming soon.