Giant 'Leap' for Robotics

legoburner writes "An AFP article is reporting that Toyota has developed a robot leg that can jump like a human's, an evolution from today's stiff-jointed machines. The leg is a strange-looking standalone device and Toyota claims it will enable robots to jump about, run faster and handle unpaved roads more smoothly."

Run faster?

[odourpreventer]

Is there yet any robot that can actually walk? By walking, I mean walk like a human, where each step is slight fall forward, and not walk like current robots, where balance is kept at all times.

If such a robot exists, can someone please post a link?

Re:If you couple it with this one...

[imsabbel]

Even as a child i wondered just HOW that robotic arm could lift up a car... if its connected to a rather normal shoulder....

Use in robots?

[Kouroth]

While I see the advantage of bipedal robots I can't help but think we may be going to wrong direction. Four or even six legs are far more stable and efficient. I'd like to see more work on centaur-like robots in the house. This type of design would allow them to interact in normal human ways but also carry much more. Not only that, kids could ride the robots around! Or maybe even bear-like robots that can stand upright and walk around when needed but drop to all fours when going long distances or carrying large heavy loads.

Re:Why this leg is significant

[Animats]

Just for fun, here's the video from our 1995 simulation work mentioned above. [youtube.com] This shows a passive ankle, though; it's just used to sense the ground angle for slip control. That's the first requirement for dealing with rough terrain. Those "crutch tip" feet that many legged robots use don't give you any info about the ground angle.