A team of researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, have developed a quadruped robot with the ability to climb on metallic walls and structures through use of its magnetised feet.
The team published their findings in the journal Science Robotics, naming the dog MARVEL, or Magnetically Adhesive Robot for Versatile and Expeditious Locomotion.
According to the researchers, the initial aim of the project was to develop a robot that could support maintenance work on metal structures, like bridges, by walking on flat surfaces, walls and ceilings.
Experimentation showed that the four-legged bot was able to climb metal walls and walk across ceilings in a testing environment and climb a rusted storage tank outdoors.
What’s more, researchers also reported that the dog could move around spots lacking metal and support payloads of up to 3kg with top speeds of 0.7m/s.
The feet work by leveraging magnetic elastomers and electro magnets, which allow the paws to magnetise and demagnetise. By enabling and disabling the magnets, the robot can use a single foot to stay in position, while other feet remain still, permitting it to let go and take steps.
Simulations based on how cats test a surface ahead of a movement were used to teach the bot to climb and navigate obstacles.
