A trio of engineers that built a bioinspired autonomous robot capable of flying, rolling, walking, and more was named one of three finalists for the Best Paper Award on Mechanisms and Design at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), which took place May 13-17, 2024 in Yokohama, Japan.
The authors on the paper, "Dynamic Modeling of Wing-Assisted Inclined Running with a Morphing Multi-Modal Robot" are Eric Sihite, postdoctoral scholar research associate in aerospace; Alireza Ramezani, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Northeastern University; and Mory Gharib (PhD '83), the Hans W. Liepmann Professor of Aeronautics and Bioinspired Engineering and director of Caltech's Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST).
The paper describes recent advances in the team's transforming robot, dubbed M4 (for Multi-Modal Mobility Morphobot). The robot can roll on four wheels, turn its wheels into rotors and fly, or stand on two wheels and "walk," or even "run" up a steep incline.
"The M4's design, with its array of functionalities, is a fascinating example of how human innovation can draw inspiration from nature's boundless ideas," says Gharib.
The multi-modal robot's outstanding maneuverability and ability to adapt to changing situations makes it ideal for many contexts, from transporting patients to exploring space.