DEVELOPING A MOTION MECHANISM FOR A SINGLE MODULE IN A SELF-RECONFIGURABLE MODULAR MICROROBOTICS SYSTEM BY USING EXTERNAL MAGNETIC ACTUATORS

Abstract

In microrobotics field, self-reconfigurable modular robots (SRMRs) offer several advantages including adaptation to uneven environments, the capability of handling various sets of tasks, and continuous operation in the case of a malfunction of a single module. The current research direction in self-reconfigurable robotic systems is towards reaching million level number of modules working in coherence by means of locomotion, self-reconfiguration, and information flow. This research direction comes with new challenges such as miniaturizing the modules. One should consider looking for alternative ways of locomotion and self-reconfiguration when dealing with SRMRs having million level number of modules. Externally actuating the modules can be a good alternative to micro SRMRs. In this study, we developed a novel motion mechanism for a single module in a micro SRMR system by using external magnetic actuators. An assembly of elastic microtubes and permanent magnets is attached inside a cube-shaped module and periodic motion of the assembly is applied. The motion of a single microtube with permanent magnets inside is generated by using COMSOL Multiphysics software. The results of the simulations are compared with theoretical values to validate the motion mechanism that is introduced in the study.

Keywords

• microrobotics
• self-reconfiguration
• external magnetic actuation
• finite elements method

Kendi Kendini Konfigüre Edebilen Bir Sistemdeki Tekil Modül İçin Dış Manyetik Eyleyiciler Kullanılarak Hareket Mekanizmasının Geliştirilmesi

Abstract

Mikro robotik alanında, kendi kendini konfigüre edebilen modüler robotlar (KKMR) düzensiz çevreye uyum sağlayabilme, birçok değişken görevi yerine getirebilme ve tekil modüllerin arızalanması durumunda operasyonu sürdürebilme gibi avantajlar sunmaktadır. Kendi kendini konfigüre edebilen robotik sistemlerdeki son güncel araştırmalar, milyon seviyesinde modül sayısına sahip sistemlerin hareket, kendi kendini konfigüre etme ve bilgi akışı gözetilerek geliştirilmesi yönündedir. Bu araştırma yönelimi beraberinde modüllerin minyatürleştirilmesi gibi sınamalar getirmektedir. Milyon mertebesinde modüle sahip bir KKMR sistemi göz önünde bulundurulduğunda, hareket ve kendi kendini konfigüre etme mekanizmaları için alternatif metotların araştırılması gerekmektedir. Modüllerin dış eyleyiciler ile harekete geçirilmesi mikro KKMR sistemleri için iyi bir seçenek oluşturmaktadır. Bu çalışmada mikro KKMR sistemindeki tekil bir modül için dış manyetik eyleyiciler kullanılarak özgün bir hareket mekanizması geliştirilmiştir. Esnek mikro tüp ve kalıcı mıknatıslardan oluşan bir yapı modülün içerisine yerleştirilmiş ve yapıya periyodik bir hareket uygulanmıştır. Tekil bir mikro tüp kalıcı mıknatıs yapısının hareketi COMSOL Multiphysics yazılımı kullanılarak canlandırılmıştır. Simülasyon sonuçları teorik değerler ile karşılaştırılarak önerilen hareket mekanizmasının doğrulaması gerçekleştirilmiştir.

Keywords

• mikrorobotik
• kendi kendini konfigüre etme
• dış manyetik tahrik
• sonlu elemanlar metodu

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