Walker (BEAM)

Walker (BEAM)

In BEAM robotics, a walker is a walking machine that has a driven mode of locomotion by intermittent ground-contacting legs. They usually possess 1 to 12 motors. (ed. motors numbering above 3 are uncommon) "Muscle wired" walkers utilizes Nitinol (nickel - titanium alloy) for its actuators.

BEAM walking robots are creating using something called NV nets. An NV net consists of NV neurons each of which is a very simple oscillator setup. The most common form of BEAM walker is the master slave Bicore, this uses two suspended Bicore arrangements.

A BEAM walker does not use a processor, nor is it programmed in any way! despite this it is able to walk and respond to terrain via resistive input from its motors. This is an extremely clever method for creating locomotion.

An Example of a two motor walker can be seen at TomboT.net

Read more about Walker (BEAM):  Variations, External Articles and Other References

Famous quotes containing the word walker:

    I believe in the total depravity of inanimate things ... the elusiveness of soap, the knottiness of strings, the transitory nature of buttons, the inclination of suspenders to twist and of hooks to forsake their lawful eyes, and cleave only unto the hairs of their hapless owner’s head.
    —Katharine Walker (1840–1916)