Boston Dynamics Cheetah Robot Breaks Running Land Speed Record

Boston Dynamics unveiled its latest bio-inspired robots, the Cheetah, which has broken the legged-robot land speed record. The Cheetah is capable of galloping at 18 mph (30 kph)!

A more detailed article at ScaryBot.com shows a comparison with a real Cheetah running.

Posted under biomimetic, companies, locomotion, mobility, research, technology

Human Exoskeleton Helps People Walk

An Israeli company Argo Medical Technologies has developed a human exoskeleton that can help people with lower limb paralysis to walk.  The technology is called ReWalk and “enables wheelchair users with lower-limb disabilities to stand, walk, and even climb stairs.”  It is a robotic suit that can be partially concealed by clothing.  The users walk with crutches, and the suit senses changes in the center of mass and the limb position to detect and respond to user intentions.

A Reuters article on the topic can be found here.

Posted under companies, exoskeleton, locomotion, technology

This post was written by admin on September 19, 2008

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Biomimetic Underwater Robots

Lobster Robots

Lobster Robots

Dr. Joseph Ayers of Northeastern University and the Marine Science Center has been performing research in biomimetic underwater robots. He has been working on two types of robots: a lobster and a sea lamprey.

More info can be found here: http://www.huginn.com/knuth/blog/2007/03/24/biomimetic-underwater-robots/

Posted under biomimetic, locomotion, neuroscience, research

This post was written by admin on September 19, 2008

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Prof. Robert Full discusses Locomotion

Professor Robert Full from UC Berkeley studies feet.
He studies how animals use feet to perform locomotion.
If you think you know feet… think again.

Robert Full gives a talk on TED titled: Secrets of movement, from geckos and roaches
Watch Robert Full’s talk on TED
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/robert_full_on_animal_movement.html

His findings and ideas are currently being used to design new robots that can scale walls and dive through underbrush… again at Boston Dynamics:

RHex from Boston Dynamics

More on RHex here.

RiSE from Boston Dynamics

More on RiSE Here

Posted under companies, locomotion, research

This post was written by admin on September 4, 2008

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