Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Walking Robots Show Human Efficiency
Found this on New Scientist: "Three mechanical bipeds, built by researchers from Cornell University, the University of Michigan and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US and Delft University in the Netherlands, respectively, walked along in an amiable, if somewhat awkward fashion.

"The most advanced commercial robots, including Honda's humanoid bot, Asimo, typically require a multitude of motors and sensors in each joint - as well as powerful adaptive software - to remain steady while walking. But the new bots instead use simple mechanical dynamics and minimal motorisation to stride along. The shape of each robot's frame and joints naturally enable them to walk along without requiring much exertion. A similar fundamental simplicity underlies the way in which humans walk."

Wonder why that took so long to figire out?

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