Four-legged robot dogs are evolving thanks to new work by US and Chinese scientists.
Researchers from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Shanghai Technical University in China have modified the design of the robot dog, placing collapsible support bars on the machines’ two hind legs.
By improving this design, the researchers want to enable four-legged robots to transform into bipedal machines when needed.
The support rods, produced on a 3D printer, are attached to the back legs of the robots. When the robot stands up on two legs, these bars automatically open forward and allow the robot to balance.
In the video recorded during the first test, a small robot dog stands up on its two hind legs and takes its first steps, albeit shakily.
Bipedal robots are better at reaching higher targets thanks to their taller stature. They can also climb more easily.
The advantage of quadruped robots is that they are more stable and can move faster.
The research team aims to exploit the possibilities of both species by making minimal modifications to the robots.
Andre Rosendo of Worcester Polytechnic Institute said, “Bipedal robots can generally move in a more dynamic and adaptive way. They have this degree of freedom,” he said.
“But we are focusing on a new dimension that changes modes to take advantage of these two different worlds.”
“We [seek] to reap the benefits from two worlds: stability and speed from quadrupeds, manipulability and a gain in operational height from bipeds.”
