[aarontech] hmm this looks interesting
- From: valiant8086 on braille plus <valiant8086@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: aarontech@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:27:08 -0400
coppied from cnet news rss
Snake-arm robot works in tight quarters | Military Tech - Mark Rutherford looks
at how the military merges with the digital age - CNET News.com Military Tech
Subscribe to Military Tech August 19, 2008
6:09 AM PDT Snake-arm robot works in tight quarters
Posted by Mark Rutherford (Credit: OC Robotics)
A UK company has developed what it calls the smallest snake-arm robot ever, one
that is flexible and compliant, like an endoscope, but fully controllable and,
like a robot, can be precisely positioned.
The unit will be tested by the US Department of Defense by conducting
inspections and work inside confined or cluttered spaces.
When not in use, the robot coils-up into a briefcase-sized box where it is
stowed. This robot has no "elbows", which allows it "follow its nose" while
maneuvering in tight quarters; according to the developer Bristol based OC
Robotics . Unlike conventional industrial robots, which are virtually useless
"because their elbows get in the way." ( Videos )
The snake-arm is 24" long, with longer units on the way. The tendon-driven
arm is comprised of vertebrae, similar to a human spine, with wires terminating
at various points along its length. The result is that an operator with a
joystick can independently control each of the segments. ( PDF )
The company envisions dozen of uses for the new snake-bot, including
aerospace assembly, nuclear inspection and a variant of invasive surgical
called "natural orifice surgery." Yeeoow. (Credit: OC Robotics)
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