GE provided the robot worm, digging tunnels for military

In the middle of May, 2020 General Electric (GE) provided the imitating movement of an earth worm of the robot, digging tunnels for military. Management of perspective research projects of the U.S. Department of Defense (DARPA) which selected the companies of $2.5 million and ordered from it several copies became interested in this project.

To carry out the task of making of military tunnels set by the ministry, the GE command addressed for inspiration the nature and developed the large segmented and soft robot who slowly moves like a huge mechanical earthworm, TechCrunch writes.

GE provided the robot worm, digging tunnels for military

"Muscles" of the robot are designed so that to imitate "a hydrostatic skeleton" - the structure filled with liquid detected in invertebrates. Artificial muscles of the robot perform hard work on promotion him forward, and the general construction allows it to adapt to different underground conditions easily. The design assumes high freedom of movement and also an opportunity to get into hard-to-reach spots.

Besides, the command developed a number of sensors which allow the robot worm to function independently underground as at such scenario remote control can be complicated. The robot is capable to dig a 500-meter tunnel and to move underground with a speed of 10 cm/sec.

As the systems of tunneling are underground, we had to create autonomous system on the basis of a complex of sensors which would allow our robot to move and drive tunnels in the right places, - the Dipak Trivedi project manager (Deepak Trivedi) explained. - Fortunately, we could involve management, artificial intelligence and sounding specialists from all laboratory, and they helped us to integrate these new opportunities into the developed system.

The project is considered perspective, but in GE do not intend to be satisfied with what has already been achieved and are going to continue improvement of the robot worm.^[1]

Robotics

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