Superbot in a Vertical Rope Climb

This is the first test I did to try and make the superbot modules climb a rope vertically using standard climbing equipment. I am using 2 Petzl Tibloc ascenders connected to the robot with zip-ties.

I have done more work since this, but haven't uploaded new videos. I will do that soon.

This work is part of the Polymorphic Robotics Laboratory at USC.
http://www.isi.edu/robots/

- Jacob Everist

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• superbot
• robot
• rope
• climb
• tibloc
• ascender
• carabiner

[coolcat83]

Tiblocs work because you insert a carabiner in the hole and the teeth are pushed into the rope by the pinching action of the carabiner as it's forced to the narrow end of the tibloc. your tiblocs are barely holding by snagging the rope. if you want to be able to ascend without slippage and hold a greater weight put a carabiner on each tibloc.

[wildmage22]

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm aware of the pinching action caused by carabiners, but I couldn't use them in this setup because my extension motion is not long enough to make progress. I have to extend greater than 2 lengths of a carabiner to actually make upward progress and I can't even do that with this set up.

Instead, in a later experiment I simulated the carabiner effect by a hollow cylinder that gives the same pinching as the carabiner.

This was the first experiment I did. There is more

[jacobeverist]

@printz150 All axes are actuated. There are 3 axes and 3 motors.

[printz150]

Are the blocks which are holding the rope swinging free on their axles? (as opposed to the inner blocks which are actuating the arms to the outer ones)

I'm asking because I'm interested in making my own modular bot.

[maxinpains]

IT does really looks like my brothers on rock climbing!!! LOL

[boogarts10]

awesome are these things for sale

[17171717]

Awesome use of the tibloc. This is amazing!

[perilouscommando]

this is really good!!!

keep up the good work!!

[ahped]

this robot can do history if they discover it more

[SOEdigital]

Whoops...just read the "about this video" section. Thought I recongised the Tiblocs ;)