Simulations and Experiments

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The second prototype M-TRAN II has enough power for whole body motions, such as locomotion. As the modular robot changes its configuration, designing a locomotion pattern should be automated. We have developed a program for this pattern generation, which uses CPG (Central Pattern Generator) network as a dynamic pattern generator and uses GA (Genetic Algorithm) for optimization. We modeled M-TRAN dynamics in the host computer and made repetitive dynamics simulation according to the GA process, and optimized locomotion patterns for several configurations of M-TRAN. Generated patterns are verified by hardware experiments. (->details)
In the two experiments (10) and (11) of the following, locomotions and self-reconfiguration are combined.

Simulation Experiment
(1) 4-Legged
Walking

Before
evolution by GA


(2) 4-Legged
Walking

After evolution
by GA
(3)
Turning round
(4)
Mini- 4-legged
walker
(5) Double-thread
Caterpillar
motion
(H-shape)
(6) Six-legged
walker
(7) Single-thread
Caterpillar
motion
(8) Wheel
(Crawler?)

unsuccessful?
(9)Spider?
(10)
Reconfiguration
from H-shape
to
Single-thread
(11)
4-Leg walk ->
H-shape ->
Single-thread
Caterpillar
(12)
H-Shape ->
Crawler ->
4-Leg walk ->
H-Shape ->
Single-thread
Caterpillar
(13)
Axisymmetric
4-Leg
->
Straight line
(14)Sidewinder
(15)
Walking around
(16) Climb
(17) 4leg ->Caterpillar
(2003/11/13)
(18)Union
(2004/Jan)