Intelligent Mobility Platform with Active Spoke System (IMPASS) is a novel wheel-leg hybrid robot that can walk in unstructured environments by stretching in or out three independently actuated spokes of each wheel. Check out all VT's robots in the Robotics and Mechanisms Lab at: http://www.me.vt.edu/romela/RoMeLa/RoMeLa.html
That is a really awesome design. I imagine the design would be useful for something like the mars lander, though I don't think this design yet accounts for non-terrain variation, such as wind or rolling rubble.
justus4justice 2 years ago