Mast
This effort serves to further the efforts of the National Center for Defense Robotics to investigate and develop robotic capabilities for use in current and future robotic combat casualty care and future needs in Autonomous Combat Casualty Care. This project is intended to further the knowledge base for robotic capabilities on the battlefield, in supporting first responders, and in reducing the risk to military personnel. The integration of a zipper mast and a snake arm onto an ARES UGV platform seeks to address two needs related to autonomous combat casualty care:
- Enable remote fine-scale interactions with patients by integration of a highly dexterous manipulator on a UGV
- Quickly locate potential patients despite low lying battlefield obscurants such as brush, grass, and walls by deploying sensors at sufficient altitudes to look into windows and over obstacles
Combining these two capabilities onto a single UGV furthers the knowledge base for robotic capabilities.
While mast systems have been available for decades, recent advances in “zipper mast” systems have made it possible to achieve significant extended mast height with very small stowed height. In addition, these zipper masts offer less complicated extension/retraction mechanisms, as there are no pulleys or other devices required to facilitate mast movement. The compact size and easy deployment scheme are possible because a zipper mast is essentially 3 or more rolled strips of metal that have interlocking edges, like a zipper. As the pieces are unrolled using a motor built into the base housing of the mast, their edges interlock vertically, and provide a stable, strong framework.
Lift Capacity: 20 lbs- Maximum Extension: 10 ft
- Stroke Speed Estimate: .75 in/sec (adjustable)
- Power Requirements: 24 VDC @ ~3 amps
- Base Unit Weight: 50 lbs
- Base Diameter: 15.75 inch
- Cable Management: Yes
- Integrated Encoder / Limit Switch: Yes