Engineers at Hong Kong’s Chinese University have created an autonomous robot, Treebot, which has crawling capabilities. This robot was developed by Yangsheng Xu, Tin Lun Lam, and other co-workers at the Advanced Robotics Lab of the Chinese University.
Treebot
The autonomous robot is capable of implementing algorithms that can plan its movement and its path. A paper was presented on the Treebot at the international conference held in Shanghai on Intelligent Robots and Systems (ICRA).
The Treebot utilizes tactile sensors and grippers fitted to its feline-type body, which enables slow movement at the front portion, then the back portion more like a worm. It does not feature complicated sensors, but the Treebot is capable of climbing up a tree, handling branches, angled trunks, and handle weight of 3.8lbs. It can also climb various types of trees and diverse trunk diameters. It is capable of climbing even the soft and thin bamboo trunks. The autonomous robot, Treebot, climbs up a trunk like an inchworm. It can also make mechanical noises that make it sound like an arboreal creature.
The Treebot can be instructed, as to which direction it needs to go and up to what distance. The Treebot does not have sight capabilities, which may not pose a problem but it would be better if it could optimize its climbing trajectory. Researchers are working on that front.