Hybrid Exploration Robot for Air and Land Deployment (H.E.R.A.L.D), rescue robots, Modular Robotics Lab, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Winner: Third Prize
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics
Students: Lauren Davis, Michael Kofron, Stella Latscha, Gabrielle Merritt, Anthony Stroffolino
Faculty Advisor: Mark Yim

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Lauren Davis, Michael Kofron, Stella Latscha, Anthony Stroffolino
University of Pennsylvania
H.E.R.A.L.D: Hybrid Exploration Robot for Air and Land Deployment
Advisor: Mark Yim

The H.E.R.A.L.D. system combines two very different form factors: a quadrotor and a light-weight, nimble snake; the snake robot is designed to maneuver both over and through rubble, while the quadrotor provides aerial surveillance. H.E.R.A.L.D. operates in three modes: separated mode, where all three robots operate independently; tank mode, where the two snakes carry the quadrotor to save battery life; and carrying mode, where the quadrotor carries a single snake at a time over impassable obstacles.

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“Snakes on a plane” might be a good strategy for building rescue robots. A four-propeller helicopter can carry a wheeled snakelike robot through the air, or connect with two snakebots to speed over flat terrain. On their own, the snakebots can squeeze through a 4-inch tube, drive over gravel and climb stairs. The helicopter can also quickly bring a bot up a flight of stairs. Pairing two snakelike robots with a flying one has let researchers combine the exploring skills of small, ground-based bots with the swift moves of an aerial machine.

Engineers have created search-and-rescue robots before — tanklike machines with heavy-duty treads — but most of these bots muscle over rough terrain with brute force. They can disturb damaged areas and have trouble reaching nooks and crannies within the wreckage.

Read the full story:

"Hybrid robot merges flier with two snakelike machines"
Gadget could one day serve on search-and-rescue missions

by Meghan Rosen
September 23, 2014

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