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Climbing in space: design and implementation of a hexapod robot using dry adhesives

Resource type
Thesis type
(Thesis) M.A.Sc.
Date created
2013-03-18
Authors/Contributors
Abstract
A legged, climbing robot that adheres to surfaces using dry adhesion is presented. This style of robot has potential applications in the space industry, as dry adhesives (unlike suction, magnets, or conventional pressure sensitive adhesives) have the potential to function effectively on orbiting spacecraft. Dry adhesives, fabricated by previous researchers, were tested in simulated space environments. No reduction in adhesive performance was found for pressures down to 1×10−5 mbar or temperatures from −50C to 75C. The design of a robot, Abigaille-III, was optimized for vertical climbing. A custom computing architecture was developed on a Field Programmable Gate Array. A novel, open-loop preloading controller, and a closed-loop positioning controller were implemented. Abigaille-III was observed to climb smooth and uneven vertical surfaces, transfer from horizontal to vertical, loiter for nearly seven hours and climb vertically at a rate of 0.44 mm s−1 for nearly four hours without detachment.
Document
Identifier
etd7709
Copyright statement
Copyright is held by the author.
Permissions
The author granted permission for the file to be printed and for the text to be copied and pasted.
Scholarly level
Supervisor or Senior Supervisor
Thesis advisor: Menon, Carlo
Member of collection
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etd7709_MHenrey.pdf 15.19 MB

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