Geckobot A motor actuated robot inspired by the gecko lizard. Goal: Develop a wall climbing robot capable of simple surface locomotion by mimmicing the kinematics of geckos. Motors have been used for the locomotion. This robot can be used on a large scale and can have much power. Approach: This robot was designed using technology already understood (motors) to test our kinematic model. The information learned from these tests will be applied to the compliant Geckobot. A PIC will be used to control the motion of the robot. Benefits: Motors are a known technology, minimizing the surprises. They are relatively efficient, and can be mass produced at a cheap cost. They are also very powerful. This robot can be agile and fast. Current Status: A proof of concept robot has been fabricated and climbed 60 degrees. Improvements are underway. Videos: Video 1: Peeling Geckobot [Mar 2006]. Video 2: Blue Geckobot [Nov 2005]. Video 3: Climbing 80 degrees [Sept 2005]. Video 4: parallel type steering [Sept 2005]. Video 5: walking and steering [Sept 2005]. Video 6: history of Geckobot. Video 7: old Geckobot climbing. Video 8: 2nd gen. Geckobot climbing. Members: Ozgur Unver, Paul Day, Metin Sitti Other wall climbing robots: compliant Geckobot,tank robot, Tri-Leg Waalbot Papers: O. Unver, A. Uneri, A. Aydemir, M. Sitti, "Geckobot: A Gecko Inspired Climbing Robot Using Elastomer Adhesives" IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Orlando, Florida May 2006. pdf O. Unver, M. Murphy, M. Sitti, "Geckobot and Waalbot: Small-Scale Wall Climbing Robots" AIAA 5th Aviation, Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference (ATIO) , Arlington, Virginia Sept. 2005. pdf

[current prototype Geckobot] [older prototype Geckobot] [CAD drawing of Third-Generation prototype] [motor prototype Geckobot]