A robot from Harvard University can climb inside jet engines

It is difficult to routinely inspect jet engines without taking them apart, a costly and time-consuming process. A team at the Wyss Institute has developed small, insect-like robots that can climb inside machines to inspect their condition.

The robots are based on the team’s previous “baby”, HAMR. These small, four-legged machines circulate like insects, and a newer version has gained the ability to walk on the surface of the water. The latest model was called HAMR-E and has feet that adhere to metal surfaces using electrostatic forces. They are made of an insulated electrode, and robots can turn off the electric field to lift the selected foot off the surface, then turn it back on to hold onto the wall.

The team also designed new ankle joints to help maintain the robot’s orientation. A new way of gait was also needed to ensure that only one foot lifts at a time while the other three remain firmly on the surface.

In HAMR-E tests, it was able to pass over 100 degrees without falling on vertical and upside down surfaces. The next step for the team is to create sensors that will improve the viscosity of HAMR-E so that it can perform its checks efficiently. It is unlikely that small robots will be able to repair. However, they should save you time and money as inspections will become much easier.

[Źródło: newatlas.com; grafika: Wyss Institute]

Also read: The Velox robot conquers water, land and recently even ice!