URCAD Sneak Peek: Jaylan Hall

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 10:45:07 -0400

Jaylan is a URA Scholar, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering major, AND a visual artist. He will present his research, "Development Of A Custom Robotic Actuator - Quadruped Robot Project" at URCAD Online 2020!

Abstract:

The quadruped robot from last year's URCAD utilized off-the-shelf servo motors to perform simple movements such as standing, walking, pivoting, and a unique walking/wheeled feature. For the new version, a quicker, more forceful actuator is needed in order to achieve running and jumping behaviors. The current market options are either too expensive, require too much power, or in most cases, both. To solve this problem, a custom-designed, fully 3D printed, robotic actuator was developed, capable of outputting fast, forceful movement. Costing under $40 to prototype, this actuator presents a compact size, low weight, easy assembly, low power requirement, simple programming, finished with an attractive aesthetic. Amid the version 3 redesign, the motor control system was made independent of the robot’s higher level control, allowing it to allocate more processing towards its higher level behaviors (inspired by mammal nervous system). In addition, an artistic touch was highly more integral throughout the design process, pushing away from the industrial build of the majority of current robotic systems. The next steps for this project involve development with basic and intermediate maneuverability, environmental perception and navigation, and most excitingly, exploring the unique fusion of emotion and logical reasoning.

Mentor: Fow-Sen Choa, CSEE, UMBC

Come see Jaylan's robot and other undergraduate research and creative work, April 22-29th at URCAD.umbc.edu!