Design and fabrication of a two degree-of-freedom hopping robot with parallel architecture using linear Lorentz-force actuators

This thesis presents the design and fabrication of a 2-DOF robotic leg using linear Lorentz-force actuators arranged in a parallel configuration. The decision to use linear actuators, a parallel architecture, and Lorentz-force motors was made because of distinct differences between these designs and the alternatives, notably, their lower weight, better resolution, and high bandwidth. We have shown that a robot of this construction can jump at least three times as high as the stroke length of its actuators, recording a maximum jump height of 48 mm using a stroke of 15 mm. This finding supports the feasibility of a larger robot based on this design.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Hummel, Robert A. (Robert Andrew)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Ian W Hunter.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/54477

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/54477