On the front of the robot is a hook-like mechanism that grabs onto the box and pulls the robot up and onto the box. The mechanism is powered by a worm gear. A worm gear is a special spiral-shaped gear that works in conjunction with a traditional spur (circular) gear:
A few of the worm gear's special properties make it ideal for this application:
- A worm gear has a lot of mechanical reduction. Though the output is significantly slower than the input, the torque is multiplied; this is referred to as a mechanical advantage. The front hook mechanism needs to be strong enough to lift the Omnilander off the ground and pull it forward ...
