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STriDER, a Three-Legged Walking Robot

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the they-call-him-tripod dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "In a short article, New Scientist reports that researchers at Virginia Tech University have developed a tripedal experimental robot. With its three legs, this robot, named STriDER — short for 'Self-excited Tripedal Dynamic Experimental Robot' — is actually more stable than 2- or 4-legged robots. As said another researcher, 'It's like a biped with a walking stick.' This robot is intended to deploy sensors and cameras in difficult-to-access areas."

10 of 105 comments (clear)

  1. Oh, come on! by u-bend · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Self-excited?" Tripod? And we're not supposed to make naughty jokes about this?

    --
    u-bend
  2. Interesting concept, but... by thesolo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Interesting concept, except that with the way it moves, it can't really walk in a straight line.

    Because it swings one leg outward from the rear to the front, it's always going to essentially be side-stepping a width that's in direct proportion to the length of its legs. If it starts in a position like <|, with two legs up front and one in the rear, and then swings the rear leg outward to position |>, the next step has to be to the left or right sides. It could every other stuff in reverse and zig-zag for the net effect of a straight line, but it wouldn't work well for very narrow spaces unless it could dynamically adjust the height of its legs.

    Nevertheless, I'd love to see one run at some point!

    1. Re:Interesting concept, but... by falconx7 · · Score: 4, Informative

      It's like flipping an equilateral triangle, it actually only needs the height of the triangle as a width to follow a path. the path it follows, as far as the legs are concerned, is straight. The central body does move in a zig-zag method, but that doesn't matter for navigating tight spaces.

      Basically, the directions it travels in are in line with one of it's sides, not in line with the direction one corner is pointing as you were trying to illustrate. Their videos on the article page rather nicely visualized it moving i a straight line.

      The main problem I see is that it can't do any turn by a a 60 degree turn. It can travel in 6 directions only... Makes me feel like I'm playing a hex board game...

    2. Re:Interesting concept, but... by Chris+Burke · · Score: 4, Funny

      The main problem I see is that it can't do any turn by a a 60 degree turn. It can travel in 6 directions only... Makes me feel like I'm playing a hex board game...

      Meaning you are prepared for leading the legions of strider-based war machines that are soon to be developed. Bet you never thought hex-based strategy gaming would be relevant to real life, but now you could be a General!

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
  3. Allow me to be the first to welcome..... by jollyreaper · · Score: 3, Funny

    Our new tripod overlords. My only question, are they HG Wells-style or John Christopher-style?

    --
    Kwisatz Haderach
    Sell the spice to CHOAM
    This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
  4. ummm, Combine anyone by tonyreadsnews · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can't believe no-one made a joke about Half-Life 2 and the Combine's Striders.

    I wonder if Gordon is in on this project?

  5. Ulla! Ulla! by The+Queen · · Score: 4, Interesting

    JOURNALIST: Quickly, one after the other, four of the Fighting Machines appeared. Monstrous tripods, higher than the tallest steeple, striding over the pine trees and smashing them. Walking engines of glittering metal. Each carried a huge funnel and I realized with horror that I'd seen this awful thing before.

    A fifth Machine appeared on the far bank. It raised itself to full height, flourished the funnel high in the air - and the ghostly, terrible Heat Ray struck the town.

    --

    The House Between - Original Sci-Fi Series
  6. Hell of a comparison by Dirtside · · Score: 4, Funny

    'It's like a biped with a walking stick.'

    Hm, I'd say it's more like a nine-legged dog that's had six legs removed.

    Seriously, does he think it's that difficult for people to conceive of something with three legs? :)
    --
    "Destroy science and religion. Science would re-emerge exactly the same; but not religion." - Penn Jillette, paraphrased
  7. R2D2 responds by alienmole · · Score: 3, Funny

    R2D2 denies being self-excited, and says he only keeps replaying that hologram of Leia for sentimental reasons.

  8. Correction... by gnownaym · · Score: 3, Informative

    The full name of the school is "Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University." "Virginia Tech" is an official trademark. "Virginia Tech University" draws angry, red-pen-toting alums.

    Just thought I'd let you know...