A snake robot propelling inside of a pipe with helical rolling motion

Toshimichi Baba, Yoshihide Kameyama, Tetsushi Kamegawa, Akio Gofuku

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

45 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Recently, multiple locomotion gaits of snakes have been realized by snake robots. A snake robot would be applied to going into a narrow space to investigate the inside of a long and slim pipe and to executing some simple work by using its slim body. In this paper, we achieve a new locomotion mode that propels a snake robot the inside of a pipe with helical rolling motion, in addition to previously achieved locomotion modes. A structure of the snake robot is constructed by connecting many units in series. The unit has a pitch axis, a yaw axis and two passive wheels. A shape of the robot is calculated by using mathematical continuum curve model. In addition, we present a method that the shape of snake robot is adjusted to a diameter of a pipe automatically. Moreover, we indicate a possibility of a new locomotion mode which conduct helical rolling motion with conical spiral form in order to improve a position of a camera while the snake robot investigates the inside of a pipe.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of SICE Annual Conference 2010, SICE 2010 - Final Program and Papers
PublisherSociety of Instrument and Control Engineers (SICE)
Pages2319-2325
Number of pages7
ISBN (Print)9784907764364
Publication statusPublished - Jan 1 2010

Publication series

NameProceedings of the SICE Annual Conference

Keywords

  • Conical spiral form
  • Helical form
  • Helical rolling motion
  • Lateral rolling
  • Snake robot

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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