Lizard-Inspired Robot Unveiled for Future Exploration of Mars' Rugged Terrain

A new robot with a reptilian design could one day replace the Mars rover in exploring the red planet. The Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in China has created a prototype for this small robot, which was inspired by lizards as the researchers acknowledged in their recent publication in the Biometrics journal of MDPI.

The surface of Mars is made up of various-sized granular soils and rocks, which can pose challenges for contemporary rovers in terms of mobility on soft soils and ability to climb over rocks, according to researchers from Nanjing University. To address these difficulties, the team developed a quadruped robot inspired by the movement of desert lizards. Their design includes a flexible spine and separate toes on each of the robot's feet to mimic the lizard's fluid motion.

Robot Reptile

According to the researchers from Nanjing, the leg structure of the robot uses a four-linkage mechanism for stable lifting motion. The foot has an active ankle and a round pad with four flexible toes, which are efficient in holding onto soils and rocks. To evaluate the robot's performance on the rough terrain of Mars, the team first conducted simulations of various conditions it may face on the planet.

The prototype was 3D printed by the team and tested on a "testbed" made to mimic the surface of Mars. Both the simulations and test results showed promising results, as the robot was able to handle the rough conditions of the planet's surface with ease. The researchers are looking to further improve the robot by incorporating new machine-learning models for self-adaptation to the Martian terrain and finding ways to maintain its battery charge during its mission.

Guangming Chen, Long Qiao, Zhenwen Zhou, Lutz Richter, and Aihong Ji wrote in their paper about the development of specific planetary rovers to support uncrewed missions to Mars. The surface of Mars is made up of granular soils and rocks of different sizes, which can make it difficult for contemporary rovers to move on soft soil and climb over rocks. To address these challenges, the researchers created a quadruped robot inspired by the movement of desert lizards.

(Photo : Chen et al (MDPI, 2023).)
A prototype of the team's lizard-inspired quadruped robot.

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Walking on Martian Terrain

The robot is made up of a flexible spine and four legs, with each leg having two hinges and a gear to mimic the creeping motion of lizards. To test the effectiveness of their design, the researchers initially ran simulations to see if their robot could imitate the movements of lizards. The results were positive, showing that the robot was able to perform the desired walking style, as reported by Futurism.

A prototype of the robot was then created using 3D-printed resin, a servo control panel, a lithium battery, and other electronics. To see how it would handle Mars-like terrain, the prototype was tested on a simulation testbed with rocky surfaces. It may take several years before a robot like this makes it to Mars, but the thought of it exploring the Red Planet is exciting.

The tests showed that the robot could move efficiently in rocky terrain, making it a promising option for future missions on Mars. However, before deployment, the team plans to further improve the design by adding a protective casing to protect against dust and soil, and by using more durable materials. The team is also exploring the integration of machine learning models to help the robot adapt to different terrains and developing a power supply system to keep the robot running continuously.