Explorer “athlete”

2010/08/05 Aulestiarte Lete, Izaro - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa

• Robotika
• Astronomia

The robot that appears in the video is called “Athlete” (All-Terrain Hex-Limbed Extra-Terrestrial Explorer) and may someday be on the Moon or on Mars. It is one of the prototypes created by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to help astronauts explore. Despite previous essays, Athlete was born in 2009.

It is clear that the video is stuck. But the dance movements that appear can serve to see somehow how the robotic vehicle moves.

In total it has six members, dressed in a wheel. That is, the vehicle consists of two three-legged robots at the base that can move these legs independently. In short, Athlete has been conceived with the aim of observing the Moon or the surface of Mars, but has also sought that the load can be discharged and transported over long distances. As it is able to lift 450 kilos on Earth, which gives it its double structure (with both parts at once, it can lift the load like a pallet).

As for the journeys, if the area to be crossed is flat, the Athlete will be moved by wheels. In rough terrain it will block the wheels and take advantage of the extremities like feet.