The name of the robot is taken from a feature film in which the machine could move on cars and crush them. Crusher is the successor to Spinner and represents the next generation of this original platform.
Crusher has more mobility, reliability and flexibility than Spinner, and a smaller 29% weight. The Crusher military robot, as well as the Spinner, is being developed by the National Robotic Engineering Center (NREC) of the Carnegie Mellon University with the financial support of the Office of Advanced Research and Development (DARPA). Crusher has a new hull design, developed by STS Technologies.
The body of the machine with a size of 5.1x2.6x1.52m (with a clearance of 0.41m) is made of high-strength aluminum pipes and titanium nodal elements. The amortized frame of the machine is made of high-strength steel, which allows Crusher to "not pay attention" to blows against large stones and stumps. The bow was completely redesigned to withstand the impacts of medium strength from collisions with small trees, and also to repel attacks from larger collisions. To do this, in front of the machine there is a steel bumper, which first perceives a blow against the obstacle and withstands a large number of collisions.
The chassis has a six-wheel base with independent suspension. Independent suspension with variable stiffness and height is developed by Timoney Technology.
Each wheel can independently move in a vertical plane, which allows you to overcome trenches, trenches, and continue to move if one or two wheels fail and also make turns on 360 ° in place. The clearance of the Crusher can vary from 0 to 0.76 m. The variable ground clearance allows the car to pass under low overhanging trees in the lower position and move through boulders and other obstacles in the upper position. Crusher is able to overcome a step height of 1.22 m, ditches 2 m in width, climb uphill with a slope of 40 °.
