Case Study: Shanghai Jiao Tong University reduces robot prototype costs with MSC Software Adams

Chinese University Develops Legged Robot for Rescue Operations in Nuclear Plants

Shanghai Jiao Tong University researchers needed a way to design a six-legged rescue robot that could operate in extreme environments such as nuclear radiation, fires, and underwater while meeting targets for speed, payload, durability, and cost. They chose MSC Software’s Adams to model the robot’s kinematics and dynamics early in the design process.

Using MSC Software’s Adams, the team created and tested multiple robot mechanisms and design variants before building a prototype. The first prototype worked as intended, the performance matched the Adams predictions, and the team avoided five additional prototypes at a cost of $100,000 each. The prototype also carried loads of up to 500 kilograms and could climb a 20 degree slope at 1.08 km/hr.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Yang Pan

Postdoctoral Research Fellow