A robot that resembles a cockroach on land and sea

A research team at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel has developed the AmphiSTAR, a robot that can move at high speeds at sea.

The robot employs a cockroach-inspired mechanism that can move its fine legs to crawl on relatively complex land terrain. It is also possible to run on the water like a lizard such as a basilisk.

There are 4 propellers in the part corresponding to the robot leg, and the axis can be tilted through the sprawl mechanism. This propeller acts as a wheel instead of a wheel on the floor and a pin that moves the robot forward on the water. In addition, when driving on water, two floats are added to prevent flooding. The driving speed is 3.6m/sec on the ground and 1.5m/sec on the water.

The research team expects the robot to be used for both land and sea applications, such as working in rice fields, search, rescue, and excavation. It plans to enable underwater driving in the future.

In the future, the research team expects to increase its utilization by making large and small sizes and improving driving and flight algorithms. Search activities can also be used in disaster-prone areas or places where it is difficult for large robots to enter. Related information can be found here .