Figure 1: Illustration of Engineered Jumper on The Moon (Source)
With the recent launch of Artemis 1, humanity is getting one step closer to colonizing the Moon. New technologies such as reusable rockets, quantum computers, and Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) will aid our space exploration. However, one key innovation to colonizing the moon could be a simple engineered jumper.
In the study, Engineered jumpers overcome biological limits via work multiplication, a group of researchers at UC Santa Barbara developed a record-breaking jumping robot that is nothing like its predecessors. The new world’s highest jumping robot can jump 31 meters, higher than a 10-story building, jumping 10 times higher than the previous record holder. To put this into perspective, this new robot can jump from the Statue of Liberty’s feet all the way up to its eye level.
There are 3 key design features that allow the world's highest jumper to hold its record-breaking title. First, the jumper is exceptionally light. By utilizing a light carbon fiber structure and a tiny motor, the jumper weighs only 30 grams. Second, the design of the spring incorporates a hybrid approach, using both rubber bands and carbon fiber slats. This allows for a flat force profile, which provides double the energy storage of a typical spring that follows Hook's law (F=kx), where force is proportional to displacement. The researchers of UC Santa Barbara argue that this property makes the new hybridized approach the most efficient spring ever. Finally, the most important feature is work multiplication. In the biological world, animals are limited to a single stroke, limiting the energy that could be released at once. However, engineered jumpers can store energy from multiple strokes with the help of a motor. Since the motor does not have to apply all the force at once, engineers are able to use a small motor. If you have difficulty visualizing it, think of those pull-back toy cars where you pull back the car to wind it up and release it for the car to shoot forward. You should be able to recall yourself pulling back on the car multiple times. In this process, you were multiplying work, and this is just like how the motor pulls back on the spring multiple times.
Why is this mechanism so useful for space exploration?
Engineered jumpers would be perfect for environments with thin or non-existent atmospheres. For example, the world’s highest jumping robot would be able to travel half a kilometer forward and 125 meters high. This would allow engineered jumpers to bypass any obstacles and difficult terrains extremely efficiently. These engineered jumpers could transport rock samples, equipment, and supply much more efficiently than rovers. Furthermore, engineered jumpers have near-perfect energy efficiency. This would allow engineered jumpers to have fewer logistics problems, which is critical as the Moon does not have adequate infrastructure. Finally, its simple design and lightweight would allow it to be easily transported and maintained on the Moon.
Although researchers are still developing engineered robots, in a few decades we could see jumping robots all over the Moon.
Q & A
David: Would these jumping robots be applicable only to some planets, since there are varying terrains and gravitational pull on different planets? Or would it work on all planets? Additionally, when will these new models be actually utilized in space missions?
These robots’ performance will vary on the condition of the planet. As mentioned, the gravitational field strength and atmosphere of the planet will affect the performance of the robot. Therefore, the robot would work on all planets; however, its efficiency would vary for different planets. These robots are still in development, so whether they will be used in space missions is still uncertain. However, if there is continuous development in engineered jumpers, they will be utilized in SpaceX and NASA’s lunar campaign, which will probably take place around 2024 or 2025.
Works Cited
Fernandez, Sonia. “The World's Highest Jumper.” University of California, 6 May 2022, https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/worlds-highest-jumper.
Hawkes, Elliot W., et al. “Engineered Jumpers Overcome Biological Limits via Work Multiplication.” Nature, vol. 604, no. 7907, 2022, pp. 657–61, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04606-3.
Magazine, Smithsonian. “Robot Jumps a Record-Breaking 100 Feet in the Air.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 2 May 2022, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/robot-jumps-a-record-breaking-100-feet-in-the-air-180980006/.
Saplakoglu, Yasemin, and substantive Quanta Magazine moderates comments to facilitate an informed. “Record-Breaking Robot Highlights How Animals Excel at Jumping.” Quanta Magazine, 16 Sept. 2022, https://www.quantamagazine.org/record-breaking-robot-highlights-how-animals-excel-at-jumping-20220914/.
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