Crawler-type mobile robot developed by NEDO and Tohoku University

A research group from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and Tohoku University announced on the 26th that they have developed a crawler-type robot that can move continuously in all directions. It is expected to be used as a driving mechanism for moving objects such as electric wheelchairs and mobile navigation robots. In the past, "omni-wheels," which can move in all directions by combining three or more wheels, were developed, but these wheels had limitations in overcoming steps and could not move smoothly on soft surfaces due to their small footprint. The robot has a simple structure consisting of two motors required for omni-directional movement and a minimal power transmission system including screw gears, making it easy to maintain. (Photo taken on August 26, 2019, location unknown, credit: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun / Kyodo News Images)