Biomimetic robotic tail for balance and terrain agility
This technology is a robotic tail — a segmented, snake-like appendage that can bend, twist, and roll in all directions — designed to attach to a mobile robot's body. Each segment of the tail is independently controlled through a system of cables, gears, and motors that precisely manage pitch, yaw, and roll movements. By swinging or positioning the tail dynamically, the robot can shift its center of mass to maintain balance, absorb impacts, or assist with rapid turning and maneuvering — much like how animals use tails for agility. The design is modular, with multiple linked segments that scale in complexity, and is engineered to integrate with existing mobile robot platforms.
What you could build
A bolt-on stabilization and agility module for legged or wheeled robots used in defense reconnaissance, disaster response, or industrial inspection — sold as an accessory system to robotics platform manufacturers or integrated by defense contractors building field robots.
Who in Virginia should care
Defense contractors and robotics integrators in Northern Virginia and the Hampton Roads area — particularly those supplying ground robotics to DoD — would have direct interest in this stabilization module.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Pinhas Ben-Tzvi, Wael Saab, William Rone, Yujiong Liu
- Granted
- April 19, 2022
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 11305420
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.