We see that robots now play such a fundamental role that they even have a “license to kill.” The dawn of this new era is represented by San Francisco, where the local police force has for some time been flanked by androids whose function is to carry out search operations and which, in the near future, could even be used for detonations in the field.
In general, robots developed so far are limited by the fact that they can only be operational on the ground. Today, even this limitation can be overcome thanks to the new combination between the ability to move a “four-legged” automaton and the potential of ferromagnetic materials.
MARVEL robot movements. Credits: Science.org, Agile and versatile climbing on ferromagnetic surfaces with a quadruped robot
MARVEL: the robot created from ferromagnetic materials
A new robotic creation has emerged thanks to the team formed by the union of researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and those from the University of Illinois. The merging of these minds gave birth to the MARVEL robot, whose acronym is derived from the name Magnetically Adhesive Robot for Versatile and Expeditious Locomotion and which, nomen omen, uses its own supports made of ferromagnetic materials to adhere to vertical surfaces and ceilings.
Besides their usefulness and versatility, these machines are also fast. Indeed, these androids are capable of climbing surfaces steeply, reaching 0.7 m/s. All this can be accomplished through precise maneuvers, also designed to “survive adversity.” Indeed, as researcher Seungwoo Hong also indicates, these robots have a range of movements which also allows them to “cross spaces, overcome obstacles and make plane transitions in turns”.
The new robot that will improve human life
Architectural description of MARVEL. Credits: Science.org, Agile and versatile climbing on ferromagnetic surfaces with a quadruped robot
The new robots obviously share the objective of any artificial product: they will be able to help humans accomplish the riskiest missions. Thanks to androids that move safely and quickly not only on the flat but also upwards, any maintenance worker will be able to do their job without having to put their life in danger.
In addition, these robots have two other essential and fundamental characteristics: low consumption and the ability to support weight. MARVEL is in fact capable of carrying and moving weights of up to 3 kg without using electricity. So far, the robots have been able to overcome obstacles of up to 5 m and move smoothly from flat surfaces to vertical walls and ceilings, even if these were full of dust and therefore difficult to move. Browse. These results were achieved through the use of special magnets that can stick “like adhesive tape” to surfaces and only use their magnetic properties to do so.
EPM: MARVEL’s innovative touch
MARVEL is able to move like a real mammal, putting its legs down when standing and then raising them again. Indeed, the “feet” of the robot are made up of the electro-permanent magnet EPM, which acts like an electromagnet and adheres to metal surfaces thanks to MRE, a magnetorheological elastomer. This means that these supports exploit the magnetic activity of the flexible material from which the feet are made, which behaves like an “adhesive rubber”. According to the researchers, EPMs enable surface adhesion and will be improved to cope with increasingly complex surfaces, while EMRs complement adhesion by increasing the contact area.
Thus, the robot is able to move because its legs magnetize and demagnetize depending on the position required for movement. The researchers ensured that the machine was able to use ferromagnetic properties and elastomers to anchor the “leg” to the surface, while being agile in releasing the latter when it came to lifting the metal limb.
This discovery is exciting, especially considering how many people still lose their lives in the workplace today. That’s why these solutions are paving the way for the future of workplace safety.