The new rover is currently under assembly and will
undergo prelaunch testing over the next few months.
Curiosity is a six-wheeler that sports the same rocker-bogie
suspension as its predecessors which eliminates axles and
springs and allows a vehicle to climb over obstacles that are
up to twice the size of the wheel’s diameter while keeping
all six of them on the ground. Each wheel has its own drive
motor, and the corner ones also sport independent steering
motors. Unlike the previous models, this guy will use his
own suspension as landing gear when lowered to the
surface on a tether.
Curiosity’s mission will begin with a Florida launch late
next year and, although it isn’t specifically looking for signs
of life, will involve creeping around an area of
Mars that may once have been habitable. It will
examine rocks, soil, and the atmosphere with
an array of tools, including a laser for
vaporizing rocks from a distance and equipment
designed to test for organic compounds. We’ll
just have to wait and see if it, too, stays on the
job 24+ times as long as intended. You can
follow its progress at
www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer.
are engaged in a study of the physical interaction
between indoor flying robots and their environment,
specifically in terms of surviving collisions with other
objects while in flight. Whereas most air vehicles
must incorporate sophisticated collision-avoidance
systems, the Airburr is designed to survive violent
encounters. This appears to be accomplished mainly
by encircling the flyer in a springy protective cage,
but the concept also includes smart sensing to
detect the collision force and location on the bot
and to react so as to avoid mission-compromising
damage.
The prototype shown employs carbon fiber
rods, mylar foil construction, and lightweight
electronics to keep it light. Careful attention to the
center of gravity allows it to fly in either forward or
hover mode. According to the literature, “Instead of
fearing contact, the AirBurr will take advantage of
its environment. It will be able to attach to surfaces to have
a bird’s-eye view of a room without using energy for lift ...
It is hoped that these innovative features will bring us closer
to mimicking the impressive flying characteristics seen in
insects and to understand the mechanics and control
required to create a truly useful and robust indoor flying
robot.”
Now, where’s my fly swatter?
Mars rover Curiosity is being assembled for testing prior
to its late 2011 launch. Photo courtesy of Nasa/JPL-Caltech.
Bot Baby To Stimulate Reproduction?
He’s round, soft, makes baby noises, kicks when you
The Airburr prototype collision-proof indoor flying robot.
Flying Bugs Bounce Back
There’s a lot to be said for paying grown
adults to play around with toys, especially when
their paychecks are covered by someone other
than US taxpayers. Researchers at Switzerland’s
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
Laboratory of Intelligent Systems ( lis.epfl.ch)
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