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Cat-like Robot Runs Like the Wind

Posted by Soulskill on from the played-by-peter-weller's-cat dept.

DeviceGuru writes "Researchers at the Biorob lab at Switzerland's École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), have announced a cat-like robot that is claimed to be the fastest quadruped robot under 30 kilograms. The Cheetah-cub Robot, which runs real-time Xenomai Linux on an x86-based RoBoard robot control board, mimics the biomechanics of a cat to increase the speed and stability of it quadroped legs, helping it achieve speeds of 1.42m/s. The goal of the still-early-stage project is to encourage research in biomechanics, with an aim toward building faster robots for search and rescue, or ground exploration. More info is available on EPFL's Cheetah page."

15 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. ...for suitable values of wind, I suppose by KNicolson · · Score: 5, Informative

    1.42 metres per second is 5.11 kph / 3.18 mph, or Force One on the Beaufort scale, which Wikipedia tells me means "Smoke drift indicates wind direction. Leaves and wind vanes are stationary."

    1. Re:...for suitable values of wind, I suppose by niftydude · · Score: 2

      1.42 metres per second is 5.11 kph / 3.18 mph, or Force One on the Beaufort scale, which Wikipedia tells me means "Smoke drift indicates wind direction. Leaves and wind vanes are stationary."

      Yeah - Usain Bolt does his 100m faster than 10 m/s. So this robot doesn't even run like a human. But robots don't get tired (though they might overheat or have their batteries go flat), so maybe a better comparison are marathons. A decent marathon runner can do over 5.5 m/s, but even a chump like me can hold at better than 3.3 m/s for that distance.

      --
      You can never know everything, and part of what you do know will always be wrong. Perhaps even the most important part.
    2. Re:...for suitable values of wind, I suppose by eggstasy · · Score: 3, Informative

      It also fails to "run like a cat" as advertised. The leg movement is similar to a fast walk, a four-beat movement. But running (galloping) is something that quadrupeds do differently, a two-beat movement, like a series of jumps, where they alternate between the hind and fore legs in pairs.

    3. Re:...for suitable values of wind, I suppose by somersault · · Score: 3, Informative

      If you examine it's gait, it's just walking quickly. Almost jogging perhaps. It certainly looks nothing like quadrupeds do when they're actually running.

      --
      which is totally what she said
  2. Uh-oh: Second Variety by hughbar · · Score: 2

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Variety

    --
    On y va, qui mal y pense!
  3. Re:Ok by mjwx · · Score: 5, Funny

    Look, I'm not going to believe it's a cat like robot until it can lay around for 18 hours of the day and lick it's own arse.

    --
    Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  4. Re:1.4m/s is not much of a wind by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    Purrma Shave?

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  5. That would be a creepy thing to see in war... by Ogi_UnixNut · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ... while in its current form it is slow and in need to be tethered, I see no reason for that to stay that way as technology advances.

    Imagining that one day tech improves to the point when these things are as fast and nimble as a cat, and can last at least a few days in power, you could stick explosives on them and have them track targets. Or have them stay hidden then lunge at high speed when someone gets too close.

    Like a mine that will chase after you before it explodes. Considering how fast my cat can run, and how nimble it is, in future these things could be quite terrifying, especially if they are released in large batches. Probably the only weapon that may save you is a shotgun (short of some futuristic, directed, hand held, EMP cannon).

    Makes me imagine of the head crabs in half life, or the replicators in stargate.

  6. Where are the smarties tubes? by Mysund · · Score: 2

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9tWYaujtD4

  7. One Small Step for Cat! by Crypto+Gnome · · Score: 2

    Wake me up when it lands on its feet (after being dropped).

    Sure it runs like the wind (a very slow and mostly tired out wind).

    --
    Visit CryptoGnome in his home.
    1. Re:One Small Step for Cat! by radarskiy · · Score: 2

      "Wake me up when it lands on its feet"

      You have to butter it first.

  8. Overlords by smileytshirt · · Score: 2

    I for one... oh never mind, you Slashdotters are too young these days!

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    www.shortman.com.au - top shorted stocks on the ASX
  9. Not Cat-Like by Russ1642 · · Score: 2

    This has like a third of the joints of a cat. The shoulders are limited to one plane, and there's no real control past the elbows and knees. A crawling baby is more elegant than this robot. Sure it's a great step forward but to call it cat-like is completely ridiculous. It has four legs. That's the only similarity so far.

  10. You're kidding yourself by llZENll · · Score: 2

    I find it amusing walking robot creators talking about accessing areas inaccessible via wheeled vehicles. Walking down a 1cm step? Are you kidding me! Wheeled robots blow this thing away in every aspect, until it can go up stairs, climb the side of a mountain, and walk around just as good as a human, please call your job what it is, a tiny fractional step having fun spending other peoples money.

  11. Cat-like? by PPH · · Score: 2

    My cat spends most of its time sleeping (Usually in inappropriate places). So a cat-like robot would just be a sack of loose mechanical parts.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.