Science & Technology

MIT robot cheetah can jump over obstacles

By T.K. Randall
May 30, 2015 ·  3 comments

There isn't much that can stand in the robot's way. Image Credit: YouTube / MIT As if it wasn't already unnerving enough to see a headless four-legged robot bounding towards you, a team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has now given its impressive cheetah robot the ability to jump over obstacles as well using a sophisticated series of software algorithms.

As it approaches an object the robot uses lasers to determine its height and distance before using that information to gauge the best position to jump from and the stride length needed to clear it."A running jump is a truly dynamic behavior," said assistant professor Sangbae Kim. "You have to manage balance and energy, and be able to handle impact after landing."

"Our robot is specifically designed for those highly dynamic behaviors."

A video demonstrating the robot's impressive ability to leap over hurdles placed in front of it on a treadmill, as well as over a series of static obstacles in a gymnasium, can be viewed below.


Source: MIT | Comments (3)

Tags: Robot, MIT, DARPA