The Rolling Robot uses a unique form of locomotion to reach a designated goal. TERRA, as the rolling robot is affectionately called, can position itself in its environment utilizing an Ultra Wideband positioning system and plan a path to it goal. Once TERRA has reached its goal it will send back temperature data to its base station. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jack Mottley, Dan Phinney, & Christopher Muir<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not all environments are reachable by humans, and therefore they require a specialized method of locomotion to explore them. The polyhedral robot has many advantages including but not limited to: omnidirectional movement, any orientationally state is stable and in normal operation, able to travel over rough terrain, not reliant on frictional forces, able to operate at relatively high speeds. The technology we plan to develop could be relevant towards many applications including space exploration and search and rescue operations. Our proposed design project is a rolling robot of a polyhedral shape. This form of movement brings advantages such as increased versatility in the terrain it can cross. Previously, rolling robots like the one our group envisions have manipulated its center of mass to invoke a rolling motion. We plan to deploy linear actuators to invoke a rolling motion. Potential deployments of the rolling robot, affectionately called TERRA, include disaster relief situations and planetary exploration. The rolling robot is exceptional at rolling over debris and rubble. The rolling robot could be deployed in a disaster relief situation being controlled by ultra wideband cellular towers and sending data about the condition of the terrain autonomously. Moreover, NASA brainstorms ideas for potential rovers for other planets that have new and novel designs. These designs utilize new ways to solve a problem that are specially adapted to a particular environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n