14 DAY TRIAL // Normally, robotics and civil engineering are two completely different fields, which fact is also confirmed by the existence of two separate sets of theorems and mathematical formulas for the computations carried out by engineers.
But a mechanical engineer at Purdue University and a civil engineer at Tel Aviv University in Israel have created new theorems that improve the design process by combining the mathematics of both kinematics and statics.
These new theorems represent a common language and provide an understanding of what we call the duality between kinematics and statics. The practical result is that engineers can use this knowledge to design better structures and better machines," said Gordon R. Pennock, a Purdue associate professor of mechanical engineering.
"Today, if you want to design a sturdy structure that does not become unstable, you have several choices. You can use the highest quality material and add many supporting members. Having a dual language provides an alternative to the current approach by giving the designer a better understanding of the physics associated with the stability of the structure. This, in turn, should enable the designer to create a safer structure at or below the cost of current designs," the engineer added.
Aside from the benefits brought to civil engineering, these theorems offer promise in creating a new class of robots that maintain their strength even when damaged or otherwise compromised.
"Current robots, however, have a single platform, but we showed how the dual theorems will enable engineers to design more functional robots with more than one platform," Pennock said.
One example is a spherical robot that contains three curved plates nested inside each other. Such a design might be useful in space applications for compact structures that expand into larger structures, such as antennas.
Another example is a 12-legged robot that has two flat platforms: a lower platform that has six legs standing on the ground and an upper platform that is connected to the ground by four legs and to the lower platform by two legs.