I²R Techs & Solutions
TurfTrekker: The Four-Legged Robot for Challenging Landscape Maintenance
30 Aug 2024
Maintaining public landscapes on uneven terrain has always been a challenging task, especially with traditional automated grass-cutting machines that struggle with areas like sloped terrains and street-side kerbs. A*STAR I²R has addressed this challenge with the development of TurfTrekker, a four-legged robot designed specifically for landscape maintenance on both common and difficult terrains.
TurfTrekker at Work
The TurfTrekker is engineered to perform grass-cutting operations in areas previously inaccessible to wheel-based machines. It can climb over kerbs and navigate uneven ground with ease, allowing it to cut grass along pavement edges, around obstacles, and in narrow spaces, including areas near tree roots.
Technology Behind TurfTrekker
TurfTrekker is equipped with a lightweight robotic arm attachment that carries out the grass-cutting operation. Fitted with sensors at all its joints, these sensors provide information about the positions of its feet relative to its body. This feedback is crucial for its locomotion controller, which adjusts the robot's gait, enabling it to move efficiently across challenging terrains.
It also features camera sensors that detect the presence of pedestrians. When someone is in close proximity, its safety proximity warning system triggers, and it automatically pauses its operation.
Currently, TurfTrekker has demonstrated its autonomous capabilities on even ground. The next stage of development aims to enhance its ability to move autonomously on uneven terrains. For now, these manoeuvres can be operated by one person using a joystick.
Enhancing Landscaping Productivity
By automating grass-cutting tasks on difficult terrains, TurfTrekker helps free landscapers from manual work, enabling them to take on higher-value tasks and increase productivity in Singapore’s landscaping sector
TurfTrekker’s capabilities were demonstrated during the Green Thumbs 2023 event, co-organised by the Landscape Industry Association (Singapore) and NParks.
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