Miniature Autonomous Robotic Vehicle (MARV)
date: label: date made
content: 1996
notes: label: Description
content: In 1996 researchers at Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, N.M., developed tiny robots to investigate the miniaturization of mechanical systems. They sought to demonstrate the feasibility and learn the limitations of using commercially available components to assemble tiny autonomous mobile vehicles. About one cubic inch in volume, MARV housed all necessary power, sensors, computers and controls on board. It was the first robot of its kind made at Sandia and among the smallest autonomous vehicles anywhere.
label: Description
content: On a custom track, the four-wheeled MARV detects and then follows a buried wire carrying a fixed radiofrequency (a 96 kHz signal). To accomplish this, the robot employs two Sandia-designed sensors to measure the relative strength of the radio signal. Based on the signal, the on-board computer decides where to move and directs two drive motors to steer toward the signal. Approximately 300 lines of computer code control the vehicle.
label: Description
content: MARV’s main developers were Barry Spletzer, Thomas Weber and Jon Bryan.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Mechanisms
label: See more items in
content: Robots and Automatons
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content: Science & Mathematics
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2011.0073.02
label: catalog number
content: 2011.0073.02
label: accession number
content: 2011.0073
objectType: label: Object Name
content: miniature robot
label: Object Name
content: robot, miniature
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: rubber (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 1 1/4 in x 1 in x 1 5/8 in; 3.175 cm x 2.54 cm x 4.1275 cm