Next-Gen Robot Chassis: Exploring Innovative Materials and Designs.

The robot chassis, the backbone supporting a robot's body and housing its core components, is transforming. As robotics ventures beyond factory floors and into dynamic environments, traditional designs are struggling to keep pace. This blog dives into the exciting world of next-generation robot chassis, exploring innovative materials and designs that are pushing the boundaries of what robots can achieve.

Lightweight Champions

The quest for efficiency is paramount in modern robotics. Every gram saved on the chassis translates to increased mobility, longer battery life, and improved manoeuvrability. This is where composite materials are making a significant impact.

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP)

Renowned for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, CFRP is a popular choice for high-performance robots. Its stiffness allows for precise movements, while its lightweight nature enhances agility. CFRP is finding applications in industrial robots, racing drones, and even humanoid robots where weight reduction is crucial.

Fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP)

A broader category encompassing various fibre types embedded in a polymer matrix, FRP offers a balance between affordability and performance. Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) is a common choice, providing a good balance between strength and weight at a lower cost than CFRP. These materials are suitable for robots requiring a blend of functionality and cost-effectiveness, such as warehouse robots and agricultural bots.

Biocomposites

Sustainability is a growing concern, and biocomposites offer an eco-friendly alternative. Made from natural fibres like flax or hemp combined with a bio-based resin, these materials boast a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional composites. While still under development, biocomposites hold promise for environmentally conscious robot designs, particularly for applications like search and rescue or environmental monitoring.

Beyond Lightweight

While weight reduction remains a key focus, the next generation of chassis materials goes beyond mere lightness. Here are some exciting developments-

Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs)

These alloys possess the remarkable ability to "remember" their original shape when exposed to heat. This opens doors for transformable chassis designs. Imagine a robot that folds compactly for storage but expands into a stable platform upon activation. SMAs are still in the early stages of adoption in robotics, but their potential for reconfigurable robots is undeniable.

Self-Healing Polymers

Imagine a robot that can repair minor cracks or tears in its chassis on the fly. This futuristic concept is inching closer to reality with self-healing polymers. These materials can automatically mend small damages, extending the operational lifespan of the robot and reducing maintenance needs. While significant research is ongoing, self-healing polymers hold immense promise for robots deployed in harsh or remote environments.

Biomimetic Materials

Taking inspiration from nature, biomimetic materials mimic the properties of biological structures. For instance, researchers are developing materials that replicate the lightweight yet sturdy exoskeletons of insects. These bio-inspired materials could lead to the creation of an incredibly strong and adaptable robot chassis, paving the way for robots that can navigate challenging terrains with ease.

Modular Magic

The traditional, monolithic chassis design is giving way to a more modular approach. This allows for-

Customization

Modular chassis systems can be configured with different components like actuators, sensors, and grippers to suit specific tasks. This flexibility is a boon for robot developers, enabling them to create robots tailored for diverse applications without starting from scratch.

Scalability

A modular design allows for easy expansion or reduction in size. Robots can be scaled up or down based on the demands of the environment or task. This is particularly advantageous for robots operating in unpredictable or dynamic settings.

Repairability

Damaged modules can be easily replaced, minimizing downtime and maintenance costs. This is crucial for robots deployed in critical applications where continuous operation is essential.

5 Advanced Robotics Kits From ThinkRobotics

Beyond the chassis, the internal workings of your robot are made possible by an advanced robotics kit. The kits are as follows-

1 MaxArm Open Source Robot Arm Powered by ESP32

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MaxArm is an open-source robotic arm powered by an ESP32 microcontroller. The linkage mechanism designed body is equipped with high-quality bus servos and a suction nozzle. Using inverse kinematics technology, MaxArm can execute a variety of tasks such as object sorting, picking, transporting and stacking.

Supporting Python and Arduino programming and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth communications, MaxArm can also be controlled by APP, PC software, wireless remote controller and mouse control. It also supports a variety of sensors to turn your creative AI ideas into reality!

2 ArmPi FPV AI Vision Raspberry Pi ROS Robotic Arm

3 TonyPi Hiwonder AI Intelligent Visual Humanoid Robot

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TonyPi intelligent visual humanoid robot uses Raspberry Pi as the central controller. OpenCV is the image processing library, which uses Python language programming. The robot is equipped with a 2DOF high-definition camera to realise Al many games. It equipped with high-voltage bus servo and voltage display. With built-in action groups, TonyPi can complete many challenging motion like push-ups.

4 JetHexa ROS Hexapod Robot Kit with Jetson Nano

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JetHexa is an open source hexapod robot based on Robot Operating System (ROS). It is armed with high-performance hardware, such as NVIDIA Jetson Nano, intelligent serial bus servos, Lidar and HD camera/ 3D depth camera, which can implement robot motion control, mapping and navigation, tracking and obstacle avoidance, custom prowling, human feature recognition, somatosensory interaction and other functions. Adopted novel inverse kinematics algorithm, supporting tripod and ripple gaits and with highly configurable body posture, height and speed, JetHexa will bring user ultimate using experience.

JetHexa not only serves as an advanced platform for user to learn and verify hexapod movement, but also provides solutions for ROS development. To help user embark on a new journey of ROS hexapod robotic world, ample ROS and robot learning materials and tutorials are provided.

5 JetAuto Pro ROS Robot for Jetson Nano

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JetAuto Pro is a comprehensive 2 in 1 ROS robot tailored for ROS learning. It is loaded with NVIDIA Jetson Nano, AI vision robotic arm, high-performance encoder motor, Lidar, 3D depth camera and 7-inch screen, which open up more functionalities. Robot motion control, mapping and navigation, path planning, tracking and obstacle avoidance, autonomous driving, intelligent picking, MoveIt simulation, somatosensory interaction and voice interaction all can be achieved!

Diverse combination of the hardware makes JetAuto Pro an ideal platform where you can learn and verify robotic SLAM function, as well as get the solution to ROS development. Massive ROS learning materials and tutorials are provided to help you get started quickly!

Conclusion