Natural disasters wreak havoc on populated areas around the world, in these situations quick informative responses are imperative to saving lives. Human involvement in these circumstances is strictly regulated for fear of increasing the number of affected persons. Therefore, there exists a demand for a fast, robust, dynamic robotic solution. The goal of this project was to design and build a self-reconfigurable modular robot for search and rescue applications. The MQP team investigated previous work and collaborated on three new innovative ideas. From these ideas, using an evaluation matrix, one specific design was chosen. These metrics required that each module move independently, identify and connect with other modules, and travel as a collective system. The chosen design is small, individually mobile, and capable of collaborated motion and dynamic system configuration. The rigorous constraints, small module size and untethered operation, necessitated an innovative design and required strategic placement of the internal components. Two different connection mechanisms, one magnetic and the other mechanical were researched, designed, and prototyped as viable methods for module connection. A final module was fabricated and individual module mobility was validated. A switchable permanent magnet connection mechanism was realized and developed for module integration.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Poppa, Stephen Michael
• Padelford, Kyle Walker
• Heslinga, Paul Michael
• Swieson, Caleb J.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042612-070256

Advisor

• Looft, Fred J.
• Nestinger, Stephen

Year

• 2012

Date created

• 2012-04-26

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical & Computer Engineering
• Robotics Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright