Pleurobot: The salamander-like robot

A bio-inspired salamander-robot.

This Salamander-like robot is called the Pleurobot. Inspired by nature, the makers took the advantages that a biomimetic design can offer. They recorded three-dimensional X-ray videos of salamanders, Pleurodeles waltl while walking on ground, walking underwater and swimming.

They tracked 64 points on the animal skeleton and recorded the 3d-movements of the bones in great detail.
Using optimization on all the recorded postures they deduced the number and position of active and passive joints needed for the robot, resulting in the following robot. The Pleurobot provides torque control for all the active joint.

Source: http://biorob.epfl.ch/pleurobot

Autonomous Walking Snake Monster Robot

Built a Spider from Snakes.

This hexapod robot was built with modular actuators from the Biorobotics Lab’s snake robot project. Developed at the Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon University, this six legged has a great stability and can withstand kicks and pushes. The actuators in each joint allow simultaneous position-velocity-torque control, were first used in a robotic snake. This work is funded by the DARPA M3 (Maximum Mobility and Manipulation) program.

The West Highland Way Day 3: Inversnaid – Crianlarich

Hiking 154 km from Milngavie to Fort William, Scotland

Day 3: Inversnaid – Crianlarich (24.4 km)

Today our trip would take us from the rocky shoreline of Loch Lomond to the higher grounds in Crianlarich. Walking on these rocks close to the water, with the sound of burling deer in the forest, is great to start the day but your average speed is very low. The first 10 km took us 4 hours. In the afternoon the sun started to shine (we still did not encounter the famous “horizontal rain”). Spirit was good after we had a big beef stew during lunch in Beinglas Farm Campsite to walk the last 10 miles to Crianlarich. Because our first 10 km took so long, we were a bit behind schedule and had to walk the last part in the dark. Luckily we had good flashlights (a must) to walk the last part in a dark forest. After a 12 hour walk a pint never tasted so good!

Tips and Tricks
• We were quite surprised that places could consist of only one house / hotel. We were prepared with enough food and water but don’t let this fact suprise you.

Check the official West Highland Way website for more tips and tricks.

<Day 2   Day 4>

The West Highland Way Day 2: Balmaha – Inversnaid

Hiking 154 km from Milngavie to Fort William, Scotland

Day 2: Balmaha – Rowardennan – Inversnaid (24.4 km)

After a clear, cold night we woke up with the sound of singing birds and a rising sun. While we were packing, a ‘fresh’ spaghetti bolognese was cooking to provide us with enough energy for the next part in this amazing trail. With the sun shining we started the day with a climb to 600 meters. From here we had a spectacular view over Loch Lomond and it’s islands, the largest inland stretch of water in Great Britain. During the descent we came through a mesmerizing forest just before we came to the shore of the Loch (lake). Close to the shore it felt like we were walking through some kind of lost world, with small trees, fern and these abandoned small beaches with crystal clear water. Just outside the restricted camping area we set camp in a pitch dark forest. With burling deer welcoming us, we fell asleep after another amazing day.

Tips and Tricks

• We missed a small blinking (bike-)light, to place in a tree. This to warn other walkers/animals in the pitch dark forest.

Check the official West Highland Way website for more tips and tricks.

<Day 1   Day 3>