New robot invention that can move without GPS
Inspired by desert ants, scientists at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and Aix-Marseille University have invented a new generation robot, called AntBot, that can move without the need for a positioning system (GPS).
 |
AntBot is capable of accurate orientation up to 0.4 degrees in all weather conditions. |
Research published in the journal Science Robotics on February 13 said that AntBot weighs 2.3 kg and has 6 legs, helping it move nimbly in complex environments where wheeled robots and drones cannot deploy.
AntBot is equipped with an optical compass that is sensitive to ultraviolet light and an optical motion sensor to measure distance.
AntBot is capable of accurate orientation up to 0.4 degrees in all weather conditions, clear or cloudy.
In addition, like desert ants, AntBot can also explore unfamiliar environments with an accuracy of up to 1cm after traveling a distance of 14m.
Desert ants are animals that can travel hundreds of meters in direct sunlight, then can make a straight line back to their nest. They use polarized light to navigate and calculate the number of steps to determine distance. By combining these two pieces of information, they can return to their nest without getting lost.