Cyclops: miniature robotic reconnaissance system

TLDR

Miniature mobile robots are desirable for military applications because they can operate covertly in highly constrained environments, yet packaging locomotion, sensing, computing, and power into such tiny spaces has been difficult. This paper presents the design and initial prototype of a miniature mobile robot intended for surveillance and reconnaissance missions in urban settings. The prototype is a 5.5‑inch diameter, 4.5‑lb sphere equipped with a novel inertial steering system, robust control, and communication capabilities. These systems enable covert video surveillance and reconnaissance in tightly constrained spaces.

Abstract

Miniature mobile robots are desirable for military applications because of their ability to function covertly in highly constrained environments. However, work on such tiny robotic systems has been hampered by the difficulty of packaging locomotion, sensing, computing and power subsystems into diminutive spaces. This paper presents the design and initial prototype of a miniature mobile robot designed to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance missions in an urban environment. This initial prototype is spherical in shape, with a diameter of 5.5 inches, and weighs only 4.5 pounds. A novel inertial steering system, along with the robot's robust control and communication systems, make it useful for covert video surveillance and reconnaissance in tightly constrained spaces.