Post by theshee on Jun 6, 2015 9:53:13 GMT 10
A robotic cheetah developed at MIT has successfully been trained to see and leap over hurdles as it sprinted along at speeds of 5 mph, making it the first four-legged machine of its kind to be able to run and jump over obstacles autonomously, the Institute announced on Thursday.
The cheetah was developed by MIT assistant professor of mechanical engineering, Sangbae Kim and his colleagues. In order to perform its running jump, it has to plan out the path on which it will travel. First, it detects the approaching obstacle and estimates its height and distance.
It then determines the best position from which to jump and alters its stride accordingly, making sure that it will land just short of the obstacle, before exerting enough force to clear the hurdle in its way. Finally, it applies the proper amount of force to allow it to land safely, and then continues to travel at its initial pace.
Leaping over hurdles and into our hearts
In a series of experiments conducted using a treadmill and an indoor track, the cheetah robot was able to successfully leap over obstacles up to 18 inches tall, or more than half the machine’s own height, the MIT team said. They plan to demonstrate the feat at the DARPA Robotics Challenge in June, and will present a paper detailing the system at a conference in July.
“The comparison between wheeled systems and legged ones has been a controversial topic in robotics communities,” Professor Kim told redOrbit via email. “Even though many believe that legged ones will eventually outperform wheeled vehicles in rough terrains, wheeled ones have been outperforming legged robots in various environments.”
“Overcoming a 40 cm-high obstacle is truly challenge even for a vehicle as big as passenger car,” he added, noting that the accomplishment was “important” because it allowed the team to “show one of the unique advantages of a legged system over wheeled vehicle.”
Kim said that he was “truly blessed” (#blessed) to have had an opportunity to develop this type of machine, telling redOrbit that he and his colleagues would “continue to advance the locomotion capability of the MIT Cheetah by integrating more advanced sensors and developing a new set of algorithm that allows versatile performance.” Ultimately, he said, his team “would like to develop a robot capable of navigating a dangerous environment autonomously.”
I've said it before and I'll say it again... these things scare the bejesus out of me! I can't even feel safe jumping over a blasted fence now! The bugger would jump it! Kim wont be feeling too blessed either when its chasing him up the road wanting to annihilate him
The cheetah was developed by MIT assistant professor of mechanical engineering, Sangbae Kim and his colleagues. In order to perform its running jump, it has to plan out the path on which it will travel. First, it detects the approaching obstacle and estimates its height and distance.
It then determines the best position from which to jump and alters its stride accordingly, making sure that it will land just short of the obstacle, before exerting enough force to clear the hurdle in its way. Finally, it applies the proper amount of force to allow it to land safely, and then continues to travel at its initial pace.
Leaping over hurdles and into our hearts
In a series of experiments conducted using a treadmill and an indoor track, the cheetah robot was able to successfully leap over obstacles up to 18 inches tall, or more than half the machine’s own height, the MIT team said. They plan to demonstrate the feat at the DARPA Robotics Challenge in June, and will present a paper detailing the system at a conference in July.
“The comparison between wheeled systems and legged ones has been a controversial topic in robotics communities,” Professor Kim told redOrbit via email. “Even though many believe that legged ones will eventually outperform wheeled vehicles in rough terrains, wheeled ones have been outperforming legged robots in various environments.”
“Overcoming a 40 cm-high obstacle is truly challenge even for a vehicle as big as passenger car,” he added, noting that the accomplishment was “important” because it allowed the team to “show one of the unique advantages of a legged system over wheeled vehicle.”
Kim said that he was “truly blessed” (#blessed) to have had an opportunity to develop this type of machine, telling redOrbit that he and his colleagues would “continue to advance the locomotion capability of the MIT Cheetah by integrating more advanced sensors and developing a new set of algorithm that allows versatile performance.” Ultimately, he said, his team “would like to develop a robot capable of navigating a dangerous environment autonomously.”
I've said it before and I'll say it again... these things scare the bejesus out of me! I can't even feel safe jumping over a blasted fence now! The bugger would jump it! Kim wont be feeling too blessed either when its chasing him up the road wanting to annihilate him
??..scary stuff!
Happy New Years Everybody!!!