RoFICoM - First Open-Hardware Connector for Metamorphic Robots

MRÁZEK, Jan and Jiří BARNAT. RoFICoM - First Open-Hardware Connector for Metamorphic Robots. In 2019 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS). Neuveden: IEEE, 2019, p. 2720-2725. ISBN 978-1-7281-4004-9. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1109/IROS40897.2019.8968167.

Basic information

• Original name: RoFICoM - First Open-Hardware Connector for Metamorphic Robots
• Authors: MRÁZEK, Jan (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Jiří BARNAT (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Neuveden, 2019 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), p. 2720-2725, 6 pp. 2019.
• Publisher: IEEE

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Proceedings paper
• Field of Study: 10201 Computer sciences, information science, bioinformatics
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• Publication form: printed version "print"
• WWW: URL
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14330/19:00110967
• Organization unit: Faculty of Informatics
• ISBN: 978-1-7281-4004-9
• ISSN: 2153-0858
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/IROS40897.2019.8968167
• UT WoS: 000544658402045
• Keywords in English: RoFI; metamorphic robots; connector
• Tags: core_A, firank_A
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

We present RoFICoM, a new retractable connection device that allows for mechanical, electric, and data communication connection between separable robotic modules. The device is intentionally designed to be used in lattice-type metamorphic robots, however, its applicability is much wider. The main novelty of our solution lies primarily in a new unique flat design and spatial compactness of the connector. With a flat connector, much more space is left for the body of a robotic module in the structure. Moreover, the connector is also fully self-contained device with well defined mechanical, electrical and data interfaces, hence it can be easily embedded in various robotic solutions. Our RoFICoM connector is easy to produce, it is open-hardware and free for non-commercial use. In the paper, we give construction details and report on a couple of experiments we performed to demonstrate key features of the connection achieved with two RoFICoM devices.

Links

• EF16_019/0000822, research and development project: Name: Centrum excelence pro kyberkriminalitu, kyberbezpečnost a ochranu kritických informačních infrastruktur
• MUNI/A/1040/2018, interní kód MU: Name: Zapojení studentů Fakulty informatiky do mezinárodní vědecké komunity 19 (Acronym: SKOMU)

Investor: Masaryk University, Category A