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Robotic Mule

 The robotic mule in its first iteration of construction. Four wheels hug a sturdy aluminum frame, which can carry up to 1000lbs

Overview

Within several fields of work, the task of carrying large and heavy objects has always been of concern, especially when it could lead to an increase in worker efficiency and health. Several platforms have already been created to solve this issue, and research is being conducted on newer ways to do this while not having to worry about terrain. However, the issue with these solutions is that they aren’t the cheapest, require a decent amount of experience to operate, and are relatively large in size and not suitable for smaller environments. Within urban environments, cheap and reproducible machines are a necessity for various fields of labor, such as landscaping and minor construction projects that cannot sustain conventional hydraulic machinery. There are solutions that exist for simple machines that can be used by many without necessary experience, however these systems are not powerful and are very limited in what they can do. On the opposite side of the spectrum, strong machines such as the bobcat system are very expensive and require fair experience to operate, providing little to no options to those who do not have the money to purchase proper equipment.

Objective

Robotic Mule is a “cost effective” robotic platform designed to assist in carrying large loads for long distances, reducing the stress and time it takes for a human to perform the same task. It is designed to be remotely operated in case certain environments pose a threat to the operator.

Features

  • All terrain
  • Rechargeable electric drive system
  • Wireless remote operation
  • Low cost

Future Plans

The robot is currently being altered to include car like steering, with two large motorized tires being placed in the back. A smaller tires is set in the front for steering and is not motorized, removing the all wheel drive title of the robot.
Future changes include changing the electrical system to accommodate more batteries and increasing the size of the sprocket on the wheel’s shaft for increased torque output with lowered rpm at the wheels center.

 The second iteration of the robotic mule in progress. This design will have the four large wheel in the back, with a turning box set up at the front

Questions?

Contact: Project Lead, Kristopher Lopez - kl972@drexel.edu