Want to see some exciting biologically inspired robotic legs? Look no further than MIT's Robotic Leg Lab website. The site has several biologically inspired legged robot pictures and videos.
Kangaroos, Dinosaurs, Flamingos and Turkeys are all inspirations for legged bots. These mechanically correct, but cosmetically awkward, robots explore the ability for robots to jump, walk, and run. These three activates are actually quite different to control.
Stand up from your computer and take walk around the room. Notice that one of your feet is in contact with the floor all the time. Now try jogging. Notice that for short periods of time you are completely off the ground as you leap from one foot to the next. Now try jumping about. Your legs need to create upward momentum to leap and then they must absorb your weight as you land.
Jumping, walking and running are different because of what is called gate, or stride. Robotically controlling the different gates is difficult because it requires compensating for weight and balance. As human we do this quit easily…well for adults that is.
Another fun aspect of the MIT leg lab site are the simulations. The Cockroach Sim shows cockroaches scurrying around the floor. It’s life like, so try not to shiver too much. The “On The Run” video is comical as two robots run with kangaroos!
Have fun watching these long legged videos.
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