The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed a revolutionary modular lunar robot called WORMS (Walking Oligomeric Robotic Mobility System), which is inspired by the animal kingdom and seeks to offer a unique and adaptable solution for different tasks on the lunar surface.
The exploration of space has led the human being to face unprecedented challenges. One of these challenges is the need for robots that can navigate extreme terrain and perform various tasks in lunar environments. The MIT engineering team has designed an innovative, nature-inspired lunar robot that promises to change the way astronauts interact with their environment on future missions to the moon.
The MIT team drew inspiration from various animal species to design the WORMS robot limbs, which can be configured into various “species” of robots that mimic spiders, elephants, goats, and oxen. This allows astronauts to adapt the robot to different tasks and avoid the need to have multiple specialized robots for each specific task.
WORMS: Oligomeric Robotic Mobility System
modular functionality
The WORMS system allows astronauts to change the robot’s limbs, bases and appendages according to the needs of the task at hand. Worm-like appendages can be attached to a chassis via a twist-and-lock mechanism, while wok-shaped shoes attach to the other end of the appendage.
Easy to use
The WORMS robot appendages have a mass of approximately 9 kg on Earth, but in the lunar atmosphere the weight would be less due to low gravity, giving the sensation of a mass of only 1.3 kg, making it easier to assemble, disassemble and reassembly. The MIT team is already working on a second-generation model with longer and slightly heavier limbs, designed to carry heavy equipment.
Applications and opportunities
Extreme Terrain Exploration
The WORMS robot is ideal for exploring extreme terrain, such as the lunar south polar region, where it is suspected that there may be frozen water, essential for the long-term survival of astronauts. On this type of terrain, wheeled robots might find it difficult to navigate.
Sustainability and efficiency
The design of the WORMS robot seeks to be sustainable and efficient from the economic point of view. By allowing the reconfiguration of its components, the amount of resources needed to carry out various tasks on the moon is reduced, which implies a decrease in exploration and development costs.
You can read more about the robot in this article from MIT, where they have the video that I have posted above.
