Strider: Bio-inspired Home Security and Automation

So, what is the USP that sets this apart from other projects? Well, this robot is designed for marketability: it fills a void in the low-cost security industry- cheap actuators allow it to patrol and investigate issues in real time without employing a full-time security guard. As security is priceless, I hope this robot will be more demanded than a robot designed to just do a task. Although the skeletal design is considered uncanny by some, it is safer than a larger robot as it simply isn't strong or heavy enough to do damage: it won't harm your child or cause property damage meaning there will be no lawsuits. It is quiet, unlike a quadcopter or other flying robot, and it can "hover", well stand, for as long as it likes. As you can see from the images, this robot is easily produced and assembled on a budget. It is designed to be modified and reiterated, Improved and expanded into a whole product line. The design is based on ease of manufacturing and rapid prototyping. At the centre of this project is practicality and mechanical thought, so it has the potential to go further than just this competition. Patented or made open source, I hope this will become a staple servant of the future. (Sorry if this write-up is too long, I just have loads of excitement and ideas for this project's expansion and I want to share this with you). Design choices: Strider is a robot inspired by insects such as the crane fly and the spider. It has long legs with small feet which allow it to reach otherwise inaccessible areas with minimum disturbance and without heavy, expensive materials like a bipod would likely require, as a bipod needs dynamic balance. This is also not only more efficient and robust than flying technologies, but quieter and safer than robots that use rotors as the amount of kinetic energy required to actuate the legs is diminished- less chance of cut hands and damaged furniture. Another distinguishing feature about this robot is the parallelogram mechanism used to lift each of the legs, which means the torque on the servos is greatly diminished relative to using a servo to drive it directly (as depicted in the second to last photo). Whilst not quite as versatile as a more advanced robot such as a bipod or quadruped like spot from Boston dynamics, the static gait of Strider would allow for minimum power usage: efficiency is always a good sales point. Potential modifications: Bodywork: I have also included a shape optimized design after seeing a TED talk called "The incredible inventions of intuitive AI". This is a design tool I never thought I would be able use until adulthood, so I am hugely grateful to the Autodesk team for giving free access to students. I have also included a render of a cover inspired by the curved, glossy surfaces of modern phones (last image). Sensors: The elevated body provides the perfect platform for a LIDAR to allow it to navigate the home, or PIR sensors, FLIR cameras and visible light cameras so that it can detect break-ins with adjustable sensitivity before sending a message via Wi-Fi/text to the owner allowing them to make the final call to the police, or dismiss it. Directional microphones would allow it to record and navigate to the source of any sharp loud noises, allowing vacant owners to react quickly to property damage, accidents or misbehaving children. PosXY or a similar system coupled with a LIDAR for accurate, real time location sensing and mapping. This would also allow the robot to retreat to a charging point, triggered by low battery or a friendly human entering the house (detected by their phone connecting to the WiFi). If a LIDAR is too expensive, an ultrasonic rangefinder could be substituted to grant obstacle avoidance for patrolling. A FLIR camera coupled with an OpenCV like system would allow Strider to discriminate between a tree outside, a delinquent racoon and an intruder, preventing annoying false alarms. Manipulator modifications: A robot arm could be added protruding from the chassis. This arm would feature an XY joint, possibly with locking capabilities and a linear actuator so it could lift heavy loads or objects that have fallen on the floor. Locomotion modifications: Linear actuators (as shown in the third to last photo) in the legs to allow for huge (75KG+) loadbearing capacities. This would also grant it the ability to lower itself when moving to make it more stable and raise itself to reach incidents/worksurfaces. When coupled with the lidar and possibly an extra degree of freedom in the legs, this would allow for precise positioning of the feet allowing it to climb stairs and avoid obstacles: wires, boxes and people. Possible challenges, and their resolutions: One issue in development has been unintended compliance in the (garden stake) legs. 3DP legs are too wasteful, and would shear easily. Carbon fibre or metal bodywork would greatly benefit this design, adding stability and durability. Another potential issue is size of components. As you can see in the real life photos, the microcontroller is top mounted. In a production model, custom PCBs could be used to make it smaller. Background on me: I am a 15-year-old secondary school student, and robotics and automation has been my lifelong passion. I have been doing it since I was in year two, albeit at a limited capacity for the first few years, so I am only one year off having spent a whole decade doing it. The school I attend is very small, and the design and technology labs shut down the year before I arrived so I am only able to use my own family’s tools. I had the fortune of my dad deciding to split the cost of a 3D printer with me, but otherwise most of my tools are quite basic. I would love to upgrade my programming and design hardware, but much more importantly I would find the chance to communicate to some of the big names who have made it in automation amazing. If this project goes well hopefully it will give me a chance to kickstart my STEM career and also provide a good point on my college application.