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Performance improvement of thermally-driven walking mechanisms

Research Project

Project/Area Number 18K03903
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Section一般
Review Section Basic Section 18040:Machine elements and tribology-related
Research InstitutionThe University of Tokyo

Principal Investigator

Yamamoto Akio  東京大学, 大学院新領域創成科学研究科, 教授 (40313035)

Project Period (FY) 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2020)
Budget Amount *help
¥4,420,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,020,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
Fiscal Year 2018: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000)
Keywordsエナジーハーベスト / 二足歩行 / 車輪機構 / 受動歩行 / 熱エネルギ / バイメタル / 自励振動 / シミュレーション / 準受動歩行 / 熱変形 / 歩行機構 / エナジーハーベスティング
Outline of Final Research Achievements

The thermal bipedal walker reported in a previous work can walk using thermally-excited vibration of a bimetal sheet. It only needs environmental heat energy for walking. This project aimed at improving the thermal bipedal walker, as well as developing new thermally-driven locomotion mechanisms. For the bipedal walker, this work investigated its performance on inclined surfaces, and confirmed that it can climb up a slope in a certain condition. This work proposed a new feet shape for the walking mechanism to improve the gait, which realized much larger walking stride than the previous thermal walkers. This work also proposed a wheel-type mechanism to realize more efficient movement than bipedal walking. The proposed wheel-type mechanism also uses bimetal sheets and can propel only with thermal energy from the environment. A two-wheeled prototype could carry a load that is equivalent to its own weight.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究がターゲットとした熱歩行機構や,新たに提案した熱車輪機構は,環境の熱エネルギ,より具体的には高温の地面からの熱だけを用いて動作する新しいタイプの機構である.将来的には,既存の電動ロボットと巧みに組み合わせることで,夏の屋外など地面が高温となる環境において,低消費エネルギの動作を実現することが期待される.あるいは,日中のみに自動的に動作するバッテリレスの巡回ロボットなどとしての利用も可能であろう.本技術は,環境エネルギを回収・再利用するエナジーハーベスティング技術の一種とみなすこともでき,エナジーハーベスティングの新方式を提案している点において学術的意義も見いだせる.

Report

(4 results)
  • 2020 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2019 Research-status Report
  • 2018 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (9 results)

All 2021 2020 2019 2018

All Journal Article (3 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 3 results) Presentation (6 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 2 results)

  • [Journal Article] A Thermally-Driven Bipedal Walker with Rugby Ball Shaped Feet2020

    • Author(s)
      Chada Tomoki, Yoshimoto Shunsuke, Yamamoto Akio
    • Journal Title

      Mechanisms and Machine Science: Advances in Italian Mechanism Science, Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference of IFToMM Italy

      Volume: 91 Pages: 626-634

    • DOI

      10.1007/978-3-030-55807-9_70

    • ISBN
      9783030558062, 9783030558079
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] Performance of a thermal bipedal walker on inclined surfaces with different leg CoMs2019

    • Author(s)
      Lingchao Su, Takeru Nemoto, and Akio Yamamoto
    • Journal Title

      Journal of Bionic Engineering

      Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Pages: 540-549

    • DOI

      10.1007/s42235-019-0044-1

    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] Performance of a Thermal Bipedal Walker on Inclined Surfaces2018

    • Author(s)
      Su Lingchao, Nemoto Takeru, Yamamoto Akio
    • Journal Title

      New Trends in Medical and Service Robotics

      Volume: 1 Pages: 17-24

    • DOI

      10.1007/978-3-030-00329-6_3

    • ISBN
      9783030003289, 9783030003296
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Presentation] バイメタル熱自励運動のモデル化及び特性評価2021

    • Author(s)
      奥野瑛,吉元俊輔,山本晃生
    • Organizer
      2021年度精密工学会春季大会学術講演会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] リング状バイメタルを用いた熱移動機構2021

    • Author(s)
      奥野瑛,吉元俊輔,山本晃生
    • Organizer
      ロボティクス・メカトロニクス 講演会2021
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] A Thermally-Driven Bipedal Walker with Rugby Ball Shaped Feet2020

    • Author(s)
      Chada Tomoki, Yoshimoto Shunsuke, Yamamoto Akio
    • Organizer
      3rd International Conference of IFToMM Italy
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] バイメタル自励振動を用いたコンパス型熱歩行機構2019

    • Author(s)
      茶田智来,小田桐央拓,吉元俊輔,山本晃生
    • Organizer
      第37回日本ロボット学会学術講演会
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] 進行方向へのバイメタル自励振動を用いた高温水平面上歩行機構の検討2018

    • Author(s)
      小田切央拓,山本晃生
    • Organizer
      第36回日本ロボット学会学術講演会
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] Performance of a Thermal Bipedal Walker on Inclined Surfaces2018

    • Author(s)
      Lingchao Su, Takeru Nemoto, and Akio Yamamoto
    • Organizer
      6th International Workshop on New Trends in Medical and Service Robotics
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research

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Published: 2018-04-23   Modified: 2022-01-27  

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