Two Legged Robot Sets Speed Record

An anonymous reader writes "Researchers in Germany and Scotland have made the fastest two-legged robot yet (for its size) called RunBot. It is controlled by a simple program that mimics the way neurons control reflexes in humans and other animals. From the article: 'We wanted to show that a very simple system with a simple neuronal controller could walk in a natural manner - and fast,' says Florentin Wörgötter, from the University of Göttingen in Germany. The story also features couple of videos of RunBot in action."

Comments

How is it fast compared to a human?

[klack]

How many leg-length per second can the "average" human achieve?

Re:How is it fast compared to a human?

[ShaniaTwain]

How many leg-length per second can the "average" human achieve?
 
A lot less than this thing once its perfected and turned into a meat-powered robot.

What the hell are thoses scientists up to? Why don't we just go ahead and program them to bat us around a bit before they eat us?
 
  Sheeesh.

Leg lengths per second?

[Shadow Wrought]

I've heard of feet per second, but legs?

Runnin'

[filtur]

I'll feel safe as long as I can still outrun our robot overlords.

Re:Cheetah

[x2A]

Ah, the famous two-legged cheetah... probably yeah.

videos

[mcguyver]

Two mpeg videos show RunBot (4.9M) walking at a steady speed and (15M) gradually learning to walk more rapidly.

Get'em while they're hot, ;)

Re:videos

[Yvanhoe]

While I ackowledge the achievement of a robot that 'learns' to walk faster, I am disapointed that it has no balance. In the video it only hangs to a rigid tube, it can't fall on the side, hence the cheap leg structure.

It's a start, but....

[Giant Ape Skeleton]

...I won't be impressed until a two-robot team wins a three-legged race.

Re:It's a start, but....

[The One and Only]

i think a human-robot team would be more impressive, because you can probablly program a robot to synchronize with another identical robot easier than you can program it to synchronize with a human being.

First video

[cejones]

I love how it busts right at the end of video 1. They should have a sensor on its head to sensor when the head touches the ground.. . That should trigger a Homer-esque "D'oh!"

On a related note

[Z1NG]

The two women who actually read /. are hoping scientist don't put so much effort into their robots finishing quickly when they produce a three-legged bot.

Remember kids...

[vertinox]

You don't have to be faster than the killer robot.
You just need to be faster than that any other humans you happen to be with.

Re:Um, does anyone else see the rod?

[rjstanford]

It can walk but can't maintain verticality? Is it there to stabilize it? That's pretty lame if they don't even have to worry about keeping its center of balance ... that's the hardest thing to figure out about fluid bipedal motion!

Probably just to stop the experiment needing a shitload of space without worrying about explicit turning. Of course, you could have just quoted the entire paragraph (two sentences) - bold face added:

RunBot currently walks around the edge of a circular room and is connected the centre of the room by a boom. But Wörgötter plans to develop a freestanding version next, and thinks it should be straightforward because the boom has only a small influence on its ability to walk.

Doesn't seem quite so problematic now, does it?

Runbot

[zippthorne]

Althought called "runbot" it's actually a speedwalkerbot. at least that's all the videos show. At no point are fewer than one foot on the ground.

Re:Runbot

[MickLinux]

Yeah, I know that the dynamics of running -- one leap after another -- are possibly more complicated than, and definitely different than the dynamics for walking. Nonetheless, I always used to like our cross-country club races (when I did run CC, and later when I'd watch my brother run) in the Shenandoah Valley. There were a few "English walkers" who would outwalk quite a few runners. That includes me. It's just a little embarassing to be struggling along, still leaping from leg to leg in that slow hobble that we call "long distance running", and have somebody breezily walk past you (same direction) and offer a little how-do-you-do.

Qurio's the runner?

[M0b1u5]

Didn't Qurio claim to be the world's first "running" robot?

I always thought Qurio was great: push him over and no matter what orientation he ends up in, he can get back to his feet again. I think it's not too far away that after they get up off the ground, they come over and slap you for pushing them over...

As to the whole walking thing - it's a fascinating topic I think:

1) walking is a controlled fall, the only thing preventing you from going face-first into the pavement is that next foot fall.

2) Maximum cruising speed is attained in a single revolution. No other animal or engine can claim the same (AFAIK).

Oblig. Simpsons

[MaXiMiUS]

C:\DOS
C:\DOS\RUN
RUN DOS RUN

I, for one...

[metroplex]

welcome the lack of any obvious "I for one welcome our new two-legged running robotic speed record breaker overlords" jokes so far. :P

Re:Um, does anyone else see the rod?

[Illserve]

But Wörgötter plans to develop a freestanding version next, and thinks it should be straightforward because the boom has only a small influence on its ability to walk.

Well what do you expect him to say, that this approach is hopelessly limited?

This isn't the first time we've seen great mobility from tethered robots, but somehow these guys never manage to produce the untethered version. Getting power and proper balancing to an untethered robot seems to be the critical stumbling block and I would be shocked if this one doesn't hit the same issues.

Gromit!

[jpellino]

It's the Wrong Trousers!

The million-dollar robot

[Kingrames]

But can they build him faster? stronger?

Yes but can it moon walk?

[wubboy]

Yes but can it moon walk? Though I am not sure I want to see moonwalking again anyway.