Robotic Mules Using Leg Pairs as Virtual Wheels

Applied Minds, Inc. (AMI) will prototype a transverse two-virtual-wheel robotic mule that will carry a diesel generator and a small rechargeable battery, and which will be capable of carrying additional loads. AMI’s concept is to build a legged robotic vehicle by replacing the wheels of a conventional vehicle with leg pairs, effectively providing a set of very large diameter virtual wheels. Legged robots raise design and engineering challenges such as balance, stability, speed, and payload capacity. There are advantages to having wheels of very large diameter, but large wheels involve greater cost, greater weight, and greater power and mechanical demands on the vehicle, as well as decreased maneuverability. AMI have identified a solution to this problem by using leg pairs as virtual wheels in the design of a vehicle. By using leg pairs as a substitute for wheels in vehicle design, AMI’s solution combines the advantages of legs and large wheels. AMI has obtained an investment from Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (NGMS) for this phase of the project. With this partnership, AMI and NGMS hope to demonstrate the viability of this technology and later to deploy it commercially.