Design of a cricket microrobot

Abstract

Our goal is to develop an autonomous robot that will fit within a two-inch cube and will provide locomotion by walking and jumping. The robot is based-on the kinematics of a cricket. It is actuated by braided pneumatic actuators with compressed air provided by an on-board compressor. The air can be distributed by an array of actuated MEMS valves. A neural network is used to control the robot, and it can be implemented in an analog VLSI circuit. The joint angles can be measured using MEMS joint angle sensors that are based on biological sensors studied in the cricket and other insects.