PolyBot - Modular, self-reconfigurable robots

Modular, self-reconfigurable robots show the promise of great versatility, robustness and low cost. Polybot is a modular, self-reconfigurable system that is being used to explore the hardware reality of a robot with a large number of interchangeable modules. Three generations of Polybot have been built over the last three years which include ever increasing levels of functionality and integration. Polybot has shown versatility, by demonstrating locomotion over a variety of terrain and manipulatin ....etc

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INTRODUCTION

In the past two decades it is estimated that disasters are responsible for about 3 million deaths worldwide, 800million people adversely affected, and property damage exceeding US$50 billion. The recent earthquake in Turkey in November of 1999 left 700 dead and 5000 injured. Many of these deaths were from structural collapse as buildings fell down onto people. Urban Search and Rescue involves the location, rescue (extrication), and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces. Voids formed when a building ....etc

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When people or animals get hurt, they can usually compensate for minor
injuries and keep limping along, but for robots, even slight damage can make them
stumble and fall. Now a robot scarcely larger than a human hand has demonstrated a
novel ability: It can recover from damage -- an innovation that could make robots
more independent.
The new robot, which looks like a splay-legged, four-footed starfish, deduces
the shape of its own body by performing a series of playful movements, swiveling its
four limbs. By using sensors to recor ....etc

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Definition

Welding technology has obtained access virtually to every branch of manufacturing; to name a few bridges, ships, rail road equipments, building constructions, boilers, pressure vessels, pipe lines, automobiles, aircrafts, launch vehicles, and nuclear power plants. Especially in India, welding technology needs constant upgrading, particularly in field of industrial and power generation boilers, high voltage generation equipment and transformers and in nuclear aero-space industry.

Computers have already entered the field of weld ....etc

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Metamorphic Robots

Robots out on the factory floor pretty much know what's coming. Constrained as they are by programming and geometry, their world is just an assembly line. But for robots operating out doors, away from civilization, both mission and geography are unpredictable. Here, robots with the ability to change their shape could adapt to constantly varying terrain.
Metamorphic robots are designed so that they can change their external shape without human intervention. One general way to achieve such functionality is to build a robot ....etc

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A robot designed for a single purpose can perform some specific task well but poorly on some other task, especially in a different environment. A fixed-architecture machine is acceptable if the environment is structured, but for tasks in unknown environments, a robot with the ability to change shape to suit the new environment and the required functionality is more likely to succeed than is its fixed-architecture counterpart. Our vision for ultimate robotic design and functionality is to create vastly more versatile robots by building them out ....etc

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Modular, self-reconfigurable robots show the promise of great versatility, robustness and low cost. Polybot is a modular, self-reconfigurable system that is being used to explore the hardware reality of a robot with a large number of interchangeable modules. Three generations of Polybot have been built over the last three years which include ever increasing levels of functionality and integration. Polybot has shown versatility, by demonstrating locomotion over a variety of terrain and manipulating a variety of objects.

Polybot is the first r ....etc

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Modular, self-reconfigurable robots show the promise of great versatility, robustness and low cost. Polybot is a modular, self-reconfigurable system that is being used to explore the hardware reality of a robot with a large number of interchangeable modules. Three generations of Polybot have been built over the last three years which include ever increasing levels of functionality and integration. Polybot has shown versatility, by demonstrating locomotion over a variety of terrain and manipulating a variety of objects.

Polybot is the first r ....etc

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Definition
In order to respond to rapidly changing environment and market, it is imperative to have such capabilities as flexibility, adaptability, reusability, etc. for the manufacturing system. The fractal manufacturing system is one of the new manufacturing paradigms for this purpose. A basic component of fractal manufacturing system, called a basic fractal unit (BFU), consists of five functional modules such as an observer, an analyzer, an organizer, a resolver, and a reporter. Each module autonomously cooperates and negotiates with others ....etc

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MEDICAL ROBOTS

Ø An Innovative Product of both BME & Mechanical Engg.

Ø Divided into four groups

1.passive 3.active

2.synergistic 4.master-slave

Ø Master-slave is more preferrable

CAS Vs MEDICAL ROBOTS

¢ CAS is powered by surgeon

¢ NO target area is predefined

¢ used for simulating and planning the operative procedure

¢ Less accurate & unsafe

¢ Medical Robots are powered by motorised system

¢ target area should be predefined

¢ programming of instruments is necess ....etc

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