Cylindabot: Transformable Wheg Robot Traversing Stepped and Sloped Environments

The ability of an autonomous robot to adapt to different terrain affords the flexibility to move successfully in a range of environments. This paper proposes the Cylindabot, a transformable Wheg robot that can move with two large wheels, each of which can rotate out, producing three legs. This abili...

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Main Authors: Robert Woolley, Jon Timmis, Andy M. Tyrrell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
Series:Robotics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-6581/10/3/104
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author Robert Woolley
Jon Timmis
Andy M. Tyrrell
author_facet Robert Woolley
Jon Timmis
Andy M. Tyrrell
author_sort Robert Woolley
collection DOAJ
description The ability of an autonomous robot to adapt to different terrain affords the flexibility to move successfully in a range of environments. This paper proposes the Cylindabot, a transformable Wheg robot that can move with two large wheels, each of which can rotate out, producing three legs. This ability to change its mode of locomotion allows for specialised performance. The Cylindabot has been tested in simulation and on a physical robot on steps and slopes as an indication of its efficacy in different environments. These experiments show that such robots are capable of climbing up to a 32 degree slope and a step 1.43 times their initial height. Theoretical limits are devised that match the results, and a comparison with existing Wheg platforms is made.
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spelling doaj.art-1ace0965ee14474dba940c01b67541152023-11-22T15:09:21ZengMDPI AGRobotics2218-65812021-08-0110310410.3390/robotics10030104Cylindabot: Transformable Wheg Robot Traversing Stepped and Sloped EnvironmentsRobert Woolley0Jon Timmis1Andy M. Tyrrell2Department of Electronic Engineering, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UKSchool of Computer Science, University of Sunderland, Sunderland SR1 3SD, UKDepartment of Electronic Engineering, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UKThe ability of an autonomous robot to adapt to different terrain affords the flexibility to move successfully in a range of environments. This paper proposes the Cylindabot, a transformable Wheg robot that can move with two large wheels, each of which can rotate out, producing three legs. This ability to change its mode of locomotion allows for specialised performance. The Cylindabot has been tested in simulation and on a physical robot on steps and slopes as an indication of its efficacy in different environments. These experiments show that such robots are capable of climbing up to a 32 degree slope and a step 1.43 times their initial height. Theoretical limits are devised that match the results, and a comparison with existing Wheg platforms is made.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-6581/10/3/104whegstepsslopesmobile robots
spellingShingle Robert Woolley
Jon Timmis
Andy M. Tyrrell
Cylindabot: Transformable Wheg Robot Traversing Stepped and Sloped Environments
Robotics
wheg
steps
slopes
mobile robots
title Cylindabot: Transformable Wheg Robot Traversing Stepped and Sloped Environments
title_full Cylindabot: Transformable Wheg Robot Traversing Stepped and Sloped Environments
title_fullStr Cylindabot: Transformable Wheg Robot Traversing Stepped and Sloped Environments
title_full_unstemmed Cylindabot: Transformable Wheg Robot Traversing Stepped and Sloped Environments
title_short Cylindabot: Transformable Wheg Robot Traversing Stepped and Sloped Environments
title_sort cylindabot transformable wheg robot traversing stepped and sloped environments
topic wheg
steps
slopes
mobile robots
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-6581/10/3/104
work_keys_str_mv AT robertwoolley cylindabottransformablewhegrobottraversingsteppedandslopedenvironments
AT jontimmis cylindabottransformablewhegrobottraversingsteppedandslopedenvironments
AT andymtyrrell cylindabottransformablewhegrobottraversingsteppedandslopedenvironments