Bergbreiter's Robotics Research Featured in NSF's Science Nation

Department of Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor S arah Bergbreiter's robotics research was featured in National Science Foundation's online magazine Science Nation. The article and video 'As fast as their tiny 'bot' legs will carry them!' highlights Bergbreiter's NSF funded research in building insect-inspired micro-robots.

The primary focus of Bergbreiter's project is to create robotic legs capable of traversing rough terrain at high speeds. In addition, her team wants to create robotic legs capable of jumping, so a robot can clear obstacles just like its insect counterparts. Part of the research will include evaluating and testing different materials on larger robots before scaling down to the micro size.

According to the article, "Bergbreiter envisions the micro-robots as mobile sensor platforms that can move through real-world environments at insect-like speeds for a variety of purposes, such as searching through small cracks in rubble after natural disasters, providing low-cost sensor deployment and engaging in stealthy surveillance."

Bergbreiter holds a joint appointment with the Institute for Systems Research and directs the University of Maryland Microrobotics Laboratory. She received both her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California, Berkeley with a focus on microrobotics.

To read the full story, visit NSF Science Nation's webpage.

Published April 8, 2014