Robotics Blog » bipedal

Petman Bipedal Robot Prototype by Boston Dynamics – Video

Dan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:46:18 +0000

This bipedal, walking robot is Boston Dynamics latest creation. It’s closely related to their BigDog robot, but only has two legs so it walks like a human.

Petman is shown walking at 3.2MPH and uses human-like, heal to toe walking motions. It also has some stability, just watch it recover from being pushed in the video below!

The goal is to recreate how a human walks, so chemical suits can be stress tested. Petman is “the first anthropomorphic robot that moves dynamically like a real person.”

Another amazing robot from Boston Dynamics, the same company who made the original land version of the sand robot we wrote about earlier, and BigDog.

PETMAN is an anthropomorphic robot for testing chemical protection clothing used by the US Army. Unlike previous suit testers, which had to be supported mechanically and had a limited repertoire of motion, PETMAN will balance itself and move freely; walking, crawling and doing a variety of suit-stressing calisthenics during exposure to chemical warfare agents. PETMAN will also simulate human physiology within the protective suit by controlling temperature, humidity and sweating when necessary, all to provide realistic test conditions.

And it wasn’t easy to build, either: it took 13 months to design and an additional 17 months to build! That’s two and a half years!
[Boston Dynamics]

Transformer Robot Turns From Car to Walker

Dan — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:30:20 +0000

Watch this robot change from a four wheeled car to a two legged bipedal robot.

KOBIAN: Emotional Humanoid Robot

Dan — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:00:37 +0000

Finally, a humanoid robot that does emotions well. KOBIAN doesn’t just do facial expressions like most other humanoid robots. This bot uses its whole body to convey emotion, much like how we humans display body-language.

We’re one step closer to having the friendly, humanoid robotic housekeeper we were all supposed to have by now. KOBIAN, make me a sandwich!

KOBIAN is good at Displaying Human Emotions

[Pink Tentacle]

Breakdancing Robot Busts Impressive Moves

Dan — Mon, 25 May 2009 23:55:38 +0000

A simple, walking robot would be impressive enough. This robot is has a full array of breakdancing moves that the small, bipedal style robot can perform. The robot appears to be a Manoi AT01, which sells commercially in Japan for about $1500 USD.

I’m taking a guess, because I can’t read Japanese, but the breakdancing moves may not be a standard feature for the Manoi.

Japan’s Moon Mission – Walking, Bipedal Moon Robot for 2020 Mission?

Dan — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 20:37:16 +0000