Bio-inspired design is a multidisciplinary research field, seeking for inspiration in the similarities between nature and design for creating structures, with the potential for remarkable scientific impact. Recent research merging mechatronics and bio-inspired engineering results in the design of trendy and unique designs in various applications.  Inspired by the movement of turtles, structures with the ability to establish multi-locomotion can be designed.  Turtles are famous for the slowness of their movements, their possibility to spread off, slowly walk and gather themselves when in danger. Inspired by their movement, a multi-locomotion robot was created able to imitate the turtle’s movement. By applying additive manufacturing technologies, unique structure was designed with potential of multi-functionality, multi-movement and flexibility. 3-D printing offers a potential route to the rapid fabrication of customized components, enabled this technology to be employed across a various range of applications. The geometry of the structure within the structure enable the design to achieve complete folding. The robot would be energy sustainable, because of the solar-panels on the turtle’s shell.

Observing the movement of a turtle that could produce different locomotion, it was designed and developed a bio-inspired robot. The turtle-inspired robot play an important role in real-world applications, such as monitoring and recovery operations, video and data collection for environmental friendly applications with the ability to be controlled from android application. It finds its use in achieving safe transport for hazard liquids and guardiancies during nighttime. By integrating smart materials in the legs of the robot, smart material actuation can be achieved. The turtle-inspired robot could be further upgraded to be able to work underwater (e.g. for underwater investigations, in large aquariums). The focus of this research is modeling, prototyping and analysis of the bio-inspired turtle-like robot with high environmental adaptability.


Environmentally Friendly Bio-Inspired Turtle Robot

Division / Sponsors: 
Aerospace Division

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/SMASIS/SMASIS2020/volume/84027

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