BioRobots, LLC, will develop MAVlegs, a landing/running gear system that will significantly enhance our military and intelligence personnels ability to execute persistent surveillance by enabling a bird-size MAV to perch on a parapet wall, ledge, or tree limb. MAVlegs will arrest the MAV at the point of touchdown, because the perching locations are characterized by limited area. MAVlegs will enable the MAV to crawl around the perch to reposition/reorient the on-board sensors for an optimal view of the target. MAVlegs will anchor the MAV to the perch to resist any winds that may arise during the period of surveillance. The Stanford micro-spine attachment mechanism will be customized to the MAVlegs purpose, specifically the need to perform distributed inward gripping. Discover Technologies Plastic Muscle, based on EAP technology, may figure prominently in the final design, as they are able to provide structure, actuation, and compliance. The system will comprise two front feet under the vehicle''s CG and one or more rear feet on the tail. The tail feet will provide the primary braking force on landing, eliminating the MAV tendency to pitch forward on landing. The front feet will cushion the landing and provide locomotion about the perch.
Benefit: BioRobots expects successful completion of the proposed R&D to revolutionize the ability of our military and intelligence personnel to obtain persistent surveillance of a target. Persistent Surveillance MAV will also be useful by local law enforcement during fugitive/criminal searches. During the search, multiple MAVleg equipped MAVs could be deployed and land on various structures throughout the search area. Even after the law enforcement personnel seem to call off the search, the MAVs would remain on their perches, keeping watch for the criminal/fugitive.
Keywords: Multi-Mode Mobility, Perching, Micro-Spines, Electro-Active Polymers, Persistent Surveillance
