Comparing cockroach and Whegs robot body motions

Abstract

Abstracting cockroach locomotion principles with reduced actuation can lead to a simple yet effective cockroach-like vehicle able to traverse irregular terrain. One such hexapod robot is Whegs VP, which achieves a cockroach-like nominal tripod gait using only a single DC motor. Whegs VP uses compliant mechanisms in its axles to passively adapt its gait to the terrain such that it can climb obstacles 175% of its leg height. High speed video analysis of walking cockroaches and Whegs VP illustrates that Whegs VP walks with cockroach-like body motions. The experiments indicate that stepping patterns play a major role in an animal's or robot's overall body motions.