NEWS
Cooperative Control for Window Traversal with an Ornithopter MAV (Mar. 2013) We demonstrate cooperative target-seeking between a 13 gram ornithopter (H2Bird), and a lightweight ground station. The ground station provides heading estimates to the ornithopter using a real-time motion tracking algorithm. Julian et al. Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems (AAMAS2013). link
Controllable Particle Adhesion (Feb. 2013) Controllable adhesion to glass spheres with a magnetically actuated synthetic gecko adhesive is demonstrated. Results show sphere pull-off forces can be increased 10-fold by changing the ridge orientation via the external magnetic field, and that the effective elastic modulus can be changed from 65 kPa to 1.5 MPa. Gillies et al. Advanced Functional Materials, 2013
A Sprawl Tuned Autonomous Robot (Feb. 2013) This robot has a variable leg sprawl angle in the transverse plane to adapt its stiffness, height, and leg-to-surface contact angle. Contact angle and normal contact forces are substantially reduced when the sprawl angle is low, and the velocity increases over smooth surfaces, with stable running at all velocities up to 5.2 m/s. Zarrouk et al. to appear ICRA 2013. Movie
Animal-inspired Design and Aerodynamic Stabilization of a Hexapedal Millirobot (Jan. 2013) The VelociRoACH is a 10 cm long, 30 gram hexapedal millirobot capable of running at 2.7 m/s, making it the fastest legged robot built to date, relative to scale. Dynamic similarity technique combined with aerodynamic damping provides stability at high speeds. D. Haldane et al. IEEE ICRA May 2013. paper Movie
Dynamic Climbing of Smooth Surfaces  (Oct.  2012) Dynamic climbing of near-vertical surfaces introduces reaction forces which require greater normal adhesion to prevent falling. Dynamic climbing on a 30 degree slope succeeds at 12 Hz leg rate, but only  4 Hz on a 70 degree slope.  Birkmeyer, Gillies, Fearing IROS Oct 2012
6 legged TAYLRoACH (July 2012) The 100-mm scale Hexapedal robot TAYLRoACH can rapidly maneuver with 90 degrees turns while running. Kohut et al. CLAWAR July 2012. Tail Maneuvers movie
Rapid Inversion: Running Animals and Robots (June 2012) Cockroaches and geckos can escape when running by swinging under a ledge in a pendulum like motion. The DASH robot, with a special foot attachment, can also swing in a similar manner.   Mongeau et. al PLoS June 2012
OctoRoACH with Tail (May 2012) The 100-mm scale OctoRoACH robot can turn using differential drive at 100 degrees per second, or with a dynamic tail with peak turn rates of 400 degrees per second. Pullin et al. ICRA 2012 movie
BOLT: Bipedal Ornithopter for Locomotion Transitioning (Sept. 2011) Bolt is a 13 gram ornithopter with legs for mixed-mode locomotion. In running modes, wings provide passive stability. With wing assisted running, BOLT can run at 2.5 m/sec while maintaining ground contact. IROS 2011 .
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Current Research Projects
Ambulating Robots The goal of this work is to develop high performance ambulating milli-robots using minimal actuation and passive stabilization mechanisms, combined with onboard high level control.
Biologically Inspired Synthetic Gecko Adhesives Micro and nanofiber structures are designed to provide high friction and adhesive forces through mechanical control of surface interactions.
Ornithopter Project Bioinspired sensors and control strategies are being developed for coordinated flight of multiple ornithopters.
Folding Prototyping of Meso- and Milli- Robots Using laser cutting of composite materials, we rapidly prototype small scale robots using flexure technology. Example structures with dozens of joints have been constructed. (Shown is autonomous miniRoACH from 2008.)
Past Research Projects
Millirobot Rapid Prototyping We are developing a low cost (<$1000)) desktop factory which will allow users to build millirobots from a kit of components. Micromechanical Flying Insect The goal of this project is to develop an autonomous 0.1 gram flying robot using insect-inspired wing kinematics.  Other Past Research Projects

Affiliations