Researchers from the University of Oregon are making important advancements in robotics that could lead to more agile robots, which will be able to walk and run while exerting little energy.
While
robots and androids such as Star Wars’ R2-D2 seem to belong only to the
fictional future of television and movies, researchers from the
University of Oregon are working to make these advanced machines a reality of
today. Jonathan Hurst, an assistant professor
of Robotics and Mechanical Design, and other engineers are developing robots
that can walk and even run while exerting little energy.
Although
much computational advancement has been made in robotics, the mechanical aspect
of today’s robots has been lagging. Hurst notes, “A rock can't
fly, no matter what software you write for it.” Existing robots tend to be more
like rocks than birds: extremely inflexible and heavy—characteristics that not
only slow them down but also require a lot of energy. This energy need makes
locomotive robots impractical for real-world application. Most robotic machines
are limited to stationary tasks, such as picking an object off of an assembly
line.
Humans and
animals, on the other hand, are well-equipped to travel quickly over varying
terrain. Hurst and his team, part of which is based in England, look to transfer such
dexterity to machines. They are undertaking studies that compare robots to
agile animals, especially ostriches. “Animals, including ostriches, have a
great ability to respond to unexpected disturbances while running, and can
provide insights into the needed robotic equivalent,” Hurst says.
The University of Oregon researchers hope to win
the “W” Prize, awarded for the first robot that, using less energy that a human
would, can run 10 kilometers in 10,000 seconds or less and over a difficult
terrain.
Researchers
at the University of Oregon are working to develop this biped robot, which
they hope will be able to walk and run more efficiently (source: University of Oregon).
Agile
robots may have an incredibly beneficial impact on society. Military
departments could use them for dangerous operations, and they may be the key to
enhanced prosthetic limbs.
The
robotics team has received a grant from the Human Frontiers Science Program,
which is administered by the National Science Foundation.
A user comment on this articlePosted on: 06-15-10 | By: CarolineAm hoping this advances more toward aids in medical science than in military applications.
