Variable Topology Truss for Robotic Humanitarian Missions

Abstract

A common feature in most disasters requiring humanitarian aid is damage to structures. Restoringstructural integrity at least temporarily can save lives. This project will develop a rapidly deployable, reconfigurable robotic truss system capable of forming loadbearing structures for applications such as shoring, forming shelters or other infrastructure. The system has large ratio active prismatic joint truss members and passive revolute joint nodes so that the geometry of the truss can be changed by changing the member lengths. In addition, each node has the ability to merge and split with other nodes so that the topology and connectivity of the truss system can also be changed.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
May 02, 2017
Source ID
FA23861714656

Entities

People

  • Mark Yim

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • United States Air Force
  • University of Pennsylvania

Tags

Readers

  • Computer Networking
  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
  • Structural Dynamics.

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • AI & ML - Autonomous Systems
  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs