China unveils desert lizard-like robot to explore Mars

Exploring Mars is beneficial for improving our knowledge and understanding of the possibility of ancient microbial life there, as well as discovering new extraterrestrial resources, in preparation for future human missions to Mars.

To support ambitious unmanned missions to Mars, planetary vehicles, ships, and rovers have been developed to perform tasks on the Martian surface. However, because the Martian surface consists of different sized granular soils and rocks, modern rovers can have difficulty moving on soft soil and climbing over rocky fields.

To overcome these difficulties, researchers in China have recently developed a four-legged crawling robot inspired by the flexible movement characteristics of desert lizards.

Initial tests have confirmed the lizard robot's suitability for simulated Mars-like terrain, including granular soil and rocky surfaces. (Image: NUAA)

Developed by a team at China's Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA), the innovative four-legged robot is made of 3D-printed plastic and works on a mechanism that mirrors the exceptionally flexible, highly precise crawling movements of desert lizards.

Here, researchers developed a four-legged robot that mimics the biological structure of the spine, legs and feet of a desert lizard, with updated joint structures to increase the robot's stable movement.

In addition to the main motor, the lizard robot also incorporates four auxiliary motors for flexibility and stability, with eight springs to enhance load-bearing capacity and reduce vibration. Each robot leg has two hinges for climbing movements, with upgraded hip joints ensuring stable lifting. The robot's ankles can actively rotate, and the flexible toes are equipped with claws to enhance grip, and the ability to adapt to different types of terrain.

In addition, kinematic models are also established to coordinate the creation of diverse movements for the robot.

Powered by a 12-volt lithium-ion battery, the lizard robot is equipped with wires, voltage regulators, and controllers to facilitate stable swaying motion and effective grasping and gripping of soil and rocks. According to the researchers, achieving this functionality was a challenge, requiring considerable effort, time, and meticulous calculations in terms of engineering and technology to make the robotic lizard project a reality.

Initial tests have confirmed its suitability and effectiveness on simulated Mars-like terrains. The team claims that the biomimetic robot has demonstrated promising capabilities in grasping and moving on both granular soil and rocky surfaces, demonstrating advances in robotic exploration technology for extraterrestrial environments.

HUYNH DUNG (Source: Interestingengineering)

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