Traveling through the dark underground areas of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Geneva, Switzerland is not for the faint of heart. The world’s most powerful particle accelerators can violently collide protons and other subatomic particles at near the speed of light, releasing levels of radiation that are potentially harmful to humans. If that’s not enough, there are long stretches of compact clutter and uneven surface areas throughout the facility that require stable footing.
Scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) are turning to dog-inspired quadrupedal robots to solve this problem.This week, CERN showed off a recent development CERN quadbot robot The facility announced that it has successfully completed the first radiation survey in the north area of CERN, the facility’s largest experimental area. In the future, CERN plans to run its “robodog” through other experimental caves, analyzing the area and looking for danger.
robot #LHC
A new robot called CERNquadbot has successfully completed its first radiation protection test inside CERN’s largest experimental area.
The CERNquadbot, also known as the “Robodog,” will be able to enter new dimensions in caves, unlike previous wheeled robots. pic.twitter.com/DQoCW2TzBy
— CERN (@CERN) February 6, 2024
Why does CERT need a robot dog?
The dangerous and sometimes cramped spaces of the LHC’s experimental caverns pose challenges to both human workers and past robot designs alike. Temporary radiation levels and other environmental hazards, such as the possibility of fire or water leaks, may make some areas temporarily inaccessible to people.other Past CERT robots, are adept at using powerful robotic arms to carry heavy objects long distances, but have difficulty navigating uneven ground. Similarly, stairs are unfamiliar to a robot that relies primarily on wheels and tracking.
That’s where CERT’s dog robots come into play. CERTquadbot’s dog-like four legs allow him to move up, down, side to side, adjusting to the slightest changes in the ground. A video of the robot in action shows the robot moving up and down on its four metal legs as it navigates what appears to be a pavement or metal grid floor, using onboard sensors to monitor its surroundings. It shows him analyzing. A human operator can be seen nearby directing the robot using a controller. For even more flair, the robot can also stand up briefly on his two hind legs. According to reports, RoboDog had to utilize all of its different maneuverability during a recent test run in the northern region, which was said to be full of obstacles.
“There are large bundles of loose wires and pipes on the ground that slide and move, making it difficult for wheeled robots and even humans to pass through,” says CERN Control, Electronics and Mechatronics Robotics engineer Chris McGreevey said in the paper. statement.
Thankfully for CERN scientists, Robodog survived this situation. And unlike other living dogs, this dog didn’t need tasty treats as a reward.
“There were no issues at all. The robot was completely stable throughout the inspection,” McGreevy added.
Now that the tests have been successfully completed, CERN said it is upgrading the robot and preparing to deploy it and its successor in the experimental cave. alice detector Used to study quark-gluon plasma. These areas have stairs and other complex surfaces that can trip CERN’s other less maneuverable robots. Once indoors, the robot dog monitors the area for dangers such as fire or water leaks, or responds quickly to alarms.
Cologne instructed pop science Go to this blog post When asked for details about the robot,
Inspired by dogs, dogs go where humans can’t go
Quadruped robots have become popular in many industries in recent years because they can nimbly access areas that are too cumbersome or dangerous for humans or larger robots. Perhaps the most famous quadruped robot on the market today, Boston Dynamics’ Spot is used to: Visit a dangerous offshore oil drilling site, Explore an old abandoned mining facility,Furthermore Monitor major sports arenas in Atlanta, Georgia. Even more controversial are law enforcement officials. new york city city and, US southern border They also turned to these quadrupedal robots to explore areas deemed too dangerous for humans.
Still, CERN doesn’t expect the new Robodog to completely eliminate the need for other models in the robot family. Instead, different robots work together and leverage their strengths to bridge gaps and achieve the ultimate goal of speeding up the process of scientific discovery.
