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www.dailymail.co.uk_sciencetech 2015 01938.txt.txt

#Meet CHIMP, the chainsaw wielding robot that can walk, climb walls and even transform into a TANK Researchers have unveiled the nearest thing yet to a real-life transformer-a human sized robot that can walk, climb walls and even turn into a tank to move across tough terrain. The Carnegie mellon University Highly Intelligent Mobile Platform, or CHIMP, is designed to primarily move like a tank using tracks to cover tough terrain. However, when it needs to, it can simply stand up -and even use built in'claws 'and a use power tools such as a chainsaw to help it climb ladders, scale buildings and even hold a car's steering wheel. CHIMP is roughly the size of a human, an inch short of 5 feet when it standing and almost 3 feet when it crawling. It weighs 443 pounds. CHIMP arms are 4. 3 feet long long enough to reach the ground, which is useful and gives the robot a simian-like stance. It can operate for 90 minutes or more with its battery pack The robot is set to compete in the US government's robo olympics next month.''CHIMP needs to master many skills for the DRC Finals,'its creators said.''During the past several months, it spent long hours crossing block piles and climbing stairs.''Now it's learning how to drive!''The finals will see 25 robots will traverse rubble, saw through walls, and drive a vehicle through a simulated disaster zone in the DARPA Robotics Challenge final showdown-with a'mystery'round thrown in. The three-year competition, inspired by the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear accident, is motivating the development of robotic technologies for use in hazardous environments, and winning comes with a $2m prize. CHIMP's normal mode of locomotion will be much like that of a tank, with the tracks of all four limbs on the ground, the team says. This configuration would offer a particular advantage when moving over debris and rough terrain. We realize there are a lot of great teams in this competition and the final scoring could be said close Tony Stentz, a CMU research professor of robotics and leader of the Tartan Rescue Team.''We are making steady progress, but we can't afford to get comfortable.''But CHIMP also can move on the treads of just two limbs when needed, such as when it must use one or more limbs to open a valve, or to operate power tools. CHIMP will be able to perform complex, physically challenging tasks through supervised autonomy. A remote, human operator will make high-level commands controlling the robot's path and actions, while the robot's onboard intelligence prevents collisions, maintains stability and otherwise keeps the robot from harm. The robot also will be preprogrammed to execute tasks such as grasping a tool, stepping on a ladder rung or turning a steering wheel without step-by-step direction from the human controller, circumventing the lag between command and execution.''Humans provide high-level control, while the robot provides low-level reflexes and self-protective behaviors,'said Tony Stentz, NREC director and Tartan Rescue Team leader.''This enables CHIMP to be highly capable without the complexity associated with a fully autonomous robot.''This type of robot has tremendous potential, 'he said. Climbing ladders and driving vehicles are among the obstacles robots will face in environments engineered for people. The NREC entry, Tartan Rescue Team, is one of seven selected by DARPA for DRC Track A, in which each team will develop its own hardware and software. CHIMP is designed with static stability; it won't fall down even if it experiences a computer glitch or power failure.''When we walk or stand, our brains are actively controlling our balance all of the time, 'Stentz said.''This dynamic balance makes people nimble and enables them to run.''When necessary, however, the operator can control CHIMP's individual joints, enabling it to adapt its motion to particular circumstances or extricate itself from tight spots.''In a pinch, it can do said anything, 'Stentz s

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