SBIR-STTR Award

BioRobots, Case Western Reserve University, and The University of Florida have partnered with Boeing Phantom Works to develop a Morphing Micro Air-Land Vehicle (MMALV) to enhance military intelligence gathering capabilities in battlespace environments. Building on landmark successes in micro air vehicle fabrication at The University of Florida and micro robot implementation at Case Western Reserve University, BioRobots will perform a comprehensive, ground-up system integration study to facilitate MMALV with the maximum level of military utility. MMALV will be capable of autonomously flying several miles, landing within a target area, and morphing into an efficient, stable, highly mobile terrestrial robot. MMALV will also be able to move within a target area, including inside buildings and caves, to deliver superior surveillance. MMALV will be equipped with an array of sensors, as well as a transmitter/receiver to receive commands and broadcast surveillance data. Upon mission completion, MMALV will be able to launch and return to base, or move to another target. Phase I work will deliver: 1) A hybrid vehicle capable of aerial to terrestrial locomotion, 2) A ‘morphing’ winged vehicle, capable of transforming locomotion modes autonomously, and 3) A fully integrated system design for MMALV, including platform, sensor, and control systems.

Benefits:
MMALV will fill a very clear niche in intelligence gathering and is expected to have immediate markets within the military arena by the close of Phase II. Furthermore, local, state, and federal law enforcement officials will garner similar benefits from MMALV, as well as fire and rescue workers. Lucrative markets are also expected for MMALV in any realm where security or monitoring is necessary. Finally, as a micro robot MMALV will have a broad range of available markets in applications ranging from educational robotic tools to consumer toys.

Keywords:
hybrid locomotion, morphing, air-land vehicle, micro air vehicle, CONOPS intelligence, system integration, robotic surveillance

BioRobots proposes the development of a Morphing Micro Air-Land Vehicle (MMALV), capable of transforming from aerial to terrestrial locomotion, to maximize situational awareness for U.S. warfighters. Terrestrial locomotion is based upon the Mini-Whegs platform, recognized as one of the most agile micro-robots today. Aerial locomotion is based upon the University of Florida Micro Air Vehicle (UF-MAV), which has proven itself among the most efficient MAV platforms to date. The integration of these platforms will grant MMALV unprecedented locomotion and surveillance capabilities. In Phase I of this work BioRobots proved feasibility through: 1) Fabrication and flight-testing of three multi-mode mobile prototypes, each possessing improved aerial and terrestrial mobility, and 2) Production of two wing-folding MAVs for seamless air-to-ground mobility transition. Phase II will expand on this success to produce a field-ready MMALV. MMALV will be capable of flying to a target, landing, morphing its shape, crawling around a target area, performing surveillance, and relaying information to warfighters in a time critical manner. A modular sensory system will facilitate mission specialization for MMALV deployment, and a semi-autonomous control system will ease the burden of operator oversight. Foundation for commercial markets will be laid through extensive evaluations by military personnel during facsimile MMALV deployments.

Keywords:
Mav, Flight, Legged Locomotion, Wing Warping, Mult