Mechanics
From BEAM Robotics Wiki
- The most general sense of the term is the study of forces and their effect upon matter.
In reference to robotics, its use will generally be related to...
- Mechanical Parts (wheels, hinges, joints, linkages, levers, [spring]]s, etc.)
- Physical structures (platforms, legs, pincers, frameworks, housings, etc.)
- Mechanical Principles (Torque, Gear Ratios, degrees of freedom, etc.) that enable, or are involved in a robot's locomotion and ability to interact with and manipulate the world around it.
Some people think of BEAM robotics as mainly a collection of unique analogue circuits. And it is true that every BEAM circuit represents an important part of the BEAM knowledge base. They add to the understanding of what is possible, and each is an example of how the concepts that make BEAM unique can inspire new ideas, and/or solve one problem or another. However, until it is mated to some type of actuator(s) and physical mechanism, a circuit remains only a circuit.
Not until these Biologically inspired Electronics circuits are brought together with likewise inspired and equally important Mechanical parts and structures, is a BEAM robot born. And if the newborn robot has been given an Aesthetically pleasing and functionally efficient form, it may then inspire other builder’s to duplicate and perhaps improve upon its design. It is this inspiration and improvement process that forms the basis of BEAM robotic evolution.
This being the case, there are some basic principles and concepts of mechanics that any robotics hobbyist should know about. The items below represent some of these principles and concepts.
[edit] Related BEAM Wiki Articles
| Mechanical Principles | Physical Structures | Mechanical Parts |
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