Researchers in the Department of Mechanical Engineering Win Air Force Campus Challenge Competition

By James Dickson, Mechanical Engineering, Master of Science 2012
Fall 2012

Imagine a futuristic world where small, robotic critters run, climb, and fly through a city collecting data and performing search and rescue missions. For researchers in the Department of Mechanical Engineering this isn't just a sci-fi vision, it's the future. For the past two years, these researchers have been competing in a problem solving competition for the development of miniature, self-deploying systems in cluttered and confined environments.

Figure 1. Proposed operation of an Adaptive Robotic Multi-Modal System

The competition, sponsored by the Department of the Air Force and the Air Force Research Lab, sought to solicit innovative, potentially paradigm-shifting ideas that have the potential to successfully address specific real-world problems of interest to the Air Force research community. Teams from Brigham Young University, Georgia Tech, Ohio University, University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Florida, University of West Florida, University of Alabama-Huntsville, and the Florida State University were selected to submit research proposals outlining novel engineering solutions to self-deploying systems. The Florida State University research team encompassing members from the Department of Mechanical Engineering proposed a novel robotic system that incorporates multiple modes of locomotion in a package smaller than a football.

This class of robots, termed Adaptive Robotic Multi-Modal Systems or ARM2S, represents a new focus in robotics research. Few robotic platforms have sought to combine multiple forms of locomotion into a single package capable of operating similar to biological counterparts. These multiple forms of locomotion will enable the robot to be adaptable and enter areas other robots would have difficulty penetrating. Dr. Jonathan Clark, the lead faculty researcher on the project, envisions a robotic platform that will be "employed in field applications such as search and rescue, surveillance and (removing landmines)."

All but two teams were eliminated from the competition after review of initial research proposals. The Florida State University and Brigham Young University were selected to compete against one another in outlining a vision for this system and developing initial prototypes. Seizing on this opportunity, researchers from Florida State developed a number of prototype technologies, including the first multi-modal climber/glider robotic platform.

Dr. William Oates, a faculty researcher on the project, envisions flight control systems for an ARM2S that rely only on a shape changing wing, rather than actuated control surfaces like elevators and flaps. His team of researchers has been experimenting with materials capable of changing their physical properties under the influence of electric fields.

Based on their novel idea and developed prototypes, the Air Force chose the Florida State University research team as winners of the Campus Challenge competition in March 2012. Members of the research team traveled to Eglin Air Force Base for the competition awards ceremony where they presented their research. The Department of Mechanical Engineering was presented with the Okaloosa Sword for their winning vision of the future.

Figure 2. A first generation ARM2S developed in the Scansorial and Terrestrial Robotics and Integrated Design Lab at the Florida State University


Figure 3. Graduate student on the Campus Challenge James Dickson, Master of Science 2012, holding the Okaloosa Sword presented at the Air Force Research Lab at Eglin Air Force Base.

Primary Investigators for the Campus Challenge at Florida State University:

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