Snake-arm robots move ahead

Citation

(2003), "Snake-arm robots move ahead", Industrial Robot, Vol. 30 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2003.04930eab.007

Snake-arm robots move ahead

Snake-arm robots move ahead

Keywords: Robots, Explosives

In April 2003 OCRobotics, manufacturer of snake-arm robots signed a contract with the UK MoD to test a snake-arm robot for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD). Back in February 2003, OCRobotics entered into an exclusive agreement with a leading manufacturer to mount its robotic arm on an EOD vehicle.

Previously in March 2003, OCRobotics entered into detailed discussions with a global aircraft manufacturer and saw the start of negotiations with GlaxoSmithKline, the global pharmaceutical company, and with Comau and Centro Research Fiat to consider application of snake-arm technology for end of life vehicle disassembly.

Snake-arms are long thin arms with lots of joints. They can be designed for significant payloads, e.g. 3 m long with a payload of 50 kg, or to be very slender, e.g. 10 m long with 80 mm OD.

Snake-arm robots have two particular novel and useful features. OCRobotics has developed hardware and software so that an arm can be controlled to follow-its-nose and deliver tools and sensors into limited access environments. Because snake-arm robots are also compliant and have smooth external and internal surfaces there are also options for interactive use in human environments. By running all services internally the arm becomes a steerable hose with a smooth cleanable external surface.

For further details please contact: E-mail: contactus@ocrobotics.com; Web site: www.ocrobotics.com