Robots at the FRC

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  Airboats, 2011

  We are developing low cost airboats: flat-bottomed boats that use an above-water fan to propel themselves forward safely and effectively through shallow or debris-filled water. Learn more...

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  Reefbot, 2010

  ReefBot is a Pittsburgh-based team of individuals committed to developing and using underwater robotic technology for the purpose of ocean exploration, education, and coral reef conservation.

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  Red Rover, 2010

  Red Rover is a lunar rover being developed by Carnegie Mellon and spin-off Astrobotic Technology for the Google Lunar X-Prize. Learn more...

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  Scarab, 2007

  Scarab is prototype rover for lunar polar exploration. Its unique configuration allows it to adjust body posture for ascent and descent of craters and to position a coring drill for soil sampling. Learn more...

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  Boss, 2007

  Boss won the DARPA Urban Challenge in 2007. Learn more...

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  Icebreaker, 2006

  Icebreaker is designed to traverse into dark steep lunar craters. Icebreaker features a novel plow device that allows it to maintain control and minimize slip while descending steep unconsolidated angle of repose slopes. Learn more...

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  DEPTHX, 2006

  The DEPTHX vehicle is a hovering AUV designed for exploration of flooded caverns and tunnels. Learn more...

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  Terrascout, 2005

  TerraScout is developing fundamental technology for autonomous outdoor vehicles to navigate outdoors. These scouts assist their human counterparts by providing eyes and ears in dangerous locations. Learn more...

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  H1ghlander, 2005

  H1ghlander competed in and finished 3rd in the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge. Learn more...

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  Zoë, 2004

  Equipped with specialized sensors, Zoe roams the Atacama desert in search of life. Just like its predecessor Hyperion, Zoe has an array of solar cells to collect energy from the sun and plan its day to maximize science returns while maintaining battery levels. Learn more...

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  SandStorm, 2004

  High-performance off-road navigator for racing in the DARPA Grand Challenge in the California desert. Learn more...

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  Ferret, 2004

  The Ferret mine mapping robot can be lowered down a borehole and produce three-dimensional maps using sonar and laser range finders that can then be used to assess mine conditions. Learn more...

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  Cave Crawler, 2004

  Cave Crawler is smaller, lighter, faster, and more mobile than its Groundhog predecessor. In addition, it is equipped with two integrated sensor modules (developed by the Subterranean Robotics group) that perform SLAM in addition to sensory output. Learn more...

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  Blackbear, 2004

  Robotic Mule for the Army. Learn more...

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  Yogi, 2003

  Yogi is an automated golf cart that serves as a testbed for autonomous navigation. Learn more...

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  Robocrane, Bullwinkle, Xavier, 2003

  Cooperative robots for autonomous assembly of structures. Learn more...

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  Hyperion, 2003

  A robot for characterizing the limits of life in desert environments. Learn more...

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  Guideway Inspection, 2003

  Guideway inspection system in operation at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

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  Groundhog, 2003

  Robot for subterranean mapping and exploration. This robot mapped several deep mines in the wake of an accident at the Quecreek mine that left 9 miners trapped. Learn more...

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  Bullwinkle, 2003

  Coordinated Mobile Manipulation for manufacturing and assembly.

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  Enviroblimp, 2002

  Developed to investigate the use of a solar-powered dirigible for collection of environmental data. Learn more...

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  Skyworker, 2001

  An assembly, inspection and maintenance robot for orbital structures. Learn more...

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  McArthur, 2001

  Testbed for navigation in unstructured outdoor terrain.

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  Hyperion, 2001

  A solar powered rover that proved the concept of Sun-Synchronous navigation in the Canadian high Arctic. Learn more...

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  Meteorite Search, 2000

  A winterized Nomad searched for and classified meteorites in Antarctica. Learn more...

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  Pioneer, 1999

  Radiation-hardened remote reconnaissance system for structural analysis of Reactor 4 at Chornobyl. Learn more...

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  Autonomous Excavator, 1999

  Designed to autonomously and efficiently dig and load trucks. Learn more...

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  Nomad, 1997

  Robot for autonomous exploration of planet-like deserts. It pioneered spherical vision and long-range navigation. Shown here in the Chilean Atacama desert. Learn more...

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  Tesselator, 1994

  Developed to inspect and waterproof the tiles underneath the space shuttle. Learn more...

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  T3, 1994

  This autonomous excavator was the first to use a bucket for robotic digging. It can sense how much dirt it is moving and how to dig around buried rocks.

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  Dante II, 1994

  A tethered walking robot for science missions in active volcanoes, explored the Mt. Spurr volcano in Alaska. It was used to sample high-temperature, gas samples from the fumaroles on the crater floor. Learn more...

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  BOA, 1994

  An automated system that safely and economically removes asbestos insulation from old pipes. It packages waste into barrels for easy disposal. Learn more...

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  Houdini, 1993

  Houdini cleans up hazardous materials from waste filled tanks. It transforms itself to a small, streamlined shape for entering a tank, then expands to a large, stable shape for heavy work. Learn more...

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  Demeter, 1993

  Demeter autonomously mows hay and alphalpa. It navigates with GPS and uses camera vision to differentiate cut and uncut crops. Learn more...

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  Neptune, 1992

  Neptune articulates magnetic tracks to roam the interiors of fuel storage tanks. It evaluates deterioration in floors and walls using acoustic navigation and corrosion sensing. Learn more...

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  Navlab II, 1992

  This automated HUMMER pioneered trinocular vision, WARP computing, and sensor fusion to navigate offroad terrain.

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  Dante I, 1992

  Dante rappels mountainsides using a spherical laser scanner and foot sensors. It entered the crater of Antarctica's Mt. Erebus but did not reach the lava lake. Learn more...

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  Ambler, 1990

  Ambler is a walking robot that enables energy-efficient overlapping gaits. Developed as a testbed for research in walking robots operating in rugged terrain. Learn more...

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  Pipe Mapping, 1988

  Mobile pipe mapping computes magnetic and radar data over a dense grid to infer the depth and location of buried pipes. This outperforms hand-held pipe detectors.

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  Locomotion Emulator, 1988

  This chassis steers and propels all wheels so that it can spin, drive, or spin while driving. Its software can emulate a tank, car or any other wheeled machine.

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  Remote Work Vehicle, 1986

  The Remote Work Vehicle was developed for a broad agenda of clean-up operations like washing contaminated surfaces, removing sediments, demolishing radiated structures, applying surface treatments, and packaging and transporting materials.

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  NavLab I, 1986

  Pioneered high performance outdoor navigation. NavLab deployed racks of computers, laser scanners, and color cameras providing cutting-edge perception in its time.

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  REX, 1985

  REX was the world's first autonomous digging machine. It sensed and planned to excavate without damaging buried gas pipes. This robot used a hypersonic air knife to erode soil around pipes.

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  Terregator, 1984

  Terregator pioneered exploration, road following and mine mapping. It was the world's first rugged, capable, autonomous outdoor navigation robot. Learn more...

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  CoreSampler, 1984

  This vehicle drilled core samples from the walls of the Three Mile Island basement to determine the depth and severity of radioactive material that soaked into the concrete at the site.

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  Remote Reconaissance Vehicle, 1983

  First vehicle to enter the basement of Three Mile Island after a meltdown in March 1979. This vehicle worked four years to survey and clean up the flooded basement.