WITH ALL THE ATTENTION BEING DIRECTED TO THE SEARCH teams working in the collapsed buildings in Haiti, this is a good time to get acquainted with OT-4 and OT-8. They are search robots that were conceived a little over 5 years ago in the University of Michigan School of Engineering.
The prototypes have been continually refined and upgraded and are almost ready to be replicated in full-size. As you can see in this photograph below, they are multi-sectioned snake-like devices composed of modules connected by swivel joints and each module has its own set of treads that are continually running. All four sides of each section has an independent track so that no matter which side of the module is touching something, it will be propelled forward.
As you will see in this video presentation, the OmniTread, as it is known, can crawl over, under and through almost any obstacle. The primary goal for this innovation was to build something that could search through collapsed buildings and rubble piles where humans cannot go. Once a victim is located, then resources can be directed to that spot. By mounting a light, a camera and a 2-way microphone on the lead module, the operator can guide the creature and communicate with trapped victims.
Note: The Omni-Tread moves at a very slow pace. The video clips have been sped up by as much as 4X to make it more easily viewed.
The University’s website has a section where more information can be gleaned along with dozens of photographs HERE.
They also have a library of 15 video clips of them doing different maneuvers that you can view HERE.
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