I-Corps: A Robot for Joint Ground and Airborne Operations - Hybrid Robot

这个创新团项目计划测试一种可以在地面上移动、飞行和悬停的机器人的商业可行性。在地面模式下，转子和稳定杆沿机器人身体的长度向下折叠。它通过将自己定位在一端，长轴垂直而不是水平方向，并展开飞行机制来转换为飞行模式。这种类型的机器人有几个关键的优点：1)执行复杂任务的能力，以及返回基地的能力，2)无辅助起飞(能够随意切换移动模式)，3)悬停(保持空中位置)，4)跨越大型障碍物和飞越崎岖地形的能力，以及5)高效的地面模式旅行。虽然这些好处中的一些可以通过小型直升机实现，但第四项“高效地面模式旅行”使这种设计与众不同，使其能够在实现目标的同时节省能源。机器人具有完成任务所需的任意次数切换空中和地面模式的能力，具有地面和空中的“走走停停”能力，使其能够适应不同的任务、不可控的环境和不可预测的威胁。许多任务需要在不易穿越的地形上移动，例如在地震搜救情况下。除了搜索和救援应用，这种类型的机器人将是许多其他应用的理想之选，例如：秘密监视、周边监视、侦察、执法、人质场景、特种部队行动、危险和/或污染(核、生物、化学或辐射)区域的检查，以及任何需要视线或触发线上的态势感知的任务。

This Innovation Corps project proposes to test the commercial feasibility of a robot that can move on the ground, fly, and hover. In the ground mode, the rotors and stabilizer bar are folded down along the length of the robot's body. It transforms into its flight mode by positioning itself on-end, with its long axis oriented vertically rather than horizontally, and unfolding its flight mechanisms. This type of robot offers several key benefits: 1) Capability to carry out complex missions, and return to home base, 2) Un-assisted take off (ability to switch locomotion modes at will), 3) Hovering (maintaining position in the air), 4) Ability to scale large obstacles and fly over rough terrain, and 5) Efficient ground-mode travel. While some of these benefits could be realized with a small helicopter, the fourth item, "efficient ground-mode travel", sets this design apart by giving it the ability to conserve energy while still making progress toward its objective.A robot that has the capability to switch air and ground modes at will as many times as necessary to complete a mission, with "stop-and-go" capabilities both on the ground in the air, enables adaption to diverse missions, uncontrollable environments, and unpredictable threats. Many missions require movement through terrain which is not easily traversable, such as in an earthquake search-and-rescue scenario. In addition to search-and-rescue applications, this type of robot would be ideal for many other applications such as: covert surveillance, perimeter surveillance, reconnaissance, law enforcement, hostage scenarios, special force operations, hazardous and/or contaminated (nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological) area inspection, and any mission which requires situational awareness over the line-of-sight or over the line-of-reach.