COBRA composites enable security robot

 

 

COBRA International (Chonburi, Thailand) is collaborating with robotics provider Obodroid (Bangkok, Thailand) to help bring a new building security robot concept to life. With the robotic systems already in place, COBRA will deliver a set of eight composite parts that form the lightweight body shell cladding of the streamlined 1.35-meter high robot.

Having been involved from the very outset of the project: from the design and engineering through to the prototyping of the composite robot shell parts, COBRA will start with the production of the first batch of robots in 2020.

By using cameras and sensors integrated into robots, building operators can provide more effective and flexible security monitoring systems, providing a 24/7 autonomous patrol service around the residential area.   

The COBRA design and development team selected a glass fiber and epoxy composite laminate for the robot shell parts which provides a stiff, lightweight yet cost-effective cladding for the robot. A combination of woven and stitched multiaxial reinforcements were hand laminated with epoxy resins before curing under vacuum bag consolidation. 

COBRA also developed the mold tools for the composite parts with some molds made in-house and the balance produced by COBRA’s network of local tooling partners. 

“COBRA takes great pride in providing a design and development service for its clients, especially those who are completely new to the world of possibilities provided by composite materials,” says Danu Chotikapanich, CEO of COBRA International. “Taking a client’s initial ideas and developing prototypes followed by production ready parts is a massive part of bringing composites into new product sectors like robotics.”

According to Chotikapanich, the composite shelled robots will soon be patrolling the parking areas and communal spaces of the latest tech-enabled commercial and residential real estate developments.