Quadruped Cheetah-Cub Robot Developed Through Biomechanics

Researchers at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne using biomechanics, have developed a four legged robot that can run like a cat, with speeds up to seven times its body length per second.

Biomechanics is the study of biological systems in humans, plants, and animals and its application to structure and function in mechanics. This field of science usually focuses on the application of artificial limbs and the study of the mechanical properties of soft tissue and bones.

The Cheetah-Cub robot's primary design feature are in its legs. The legs have been developed by closely studying and reproducing the functions and structure of a cat's leg. This allows the robot to be agile and fast just like that of a cat. The robot is about the size of a house cat and is lightweight. It mimics the movement of a cat and is fast for its size and weight; about 1.4 meters a second. It also can compensate for obstacles such as small steps and rough terrain (see embedded video below).

Researchers are looking at developing the cheetah-cub robot for use in search and rescue missions and also for exploration purposes as well. Developing quadruped robots can circumvent limitations that wheel based robots have when it comes to certain surfaces such as rocky terrain.

Fast and Agile Quadruped Robot

Even though it doesn't have a head, you can still tell what kind of animal it is: the robot is definitely modeled upon a cat. Developed by EPFL's Biorobotics Laboratory (Biorob), the "cheetah-cub robot," a small-size quadruped prototype robot, is described in an article appearing today in the International Journal of Robotics Research. The purpose of the platform is to encourage research in biomechanics; its particularity is the design of its legs, which make it very fast and stable. Robots developed from this concept could eventually be used in search and rescue missions or for exploration.

This robot is the fastest in its category, namely in normalized speed for small quadruped robots under 30Kg. During tests, it demonstrated its ability to run nearly seven times its body length in one second. Although not as agile as a real cat, it still has excellent auto-stabilization characteristics when running at full speed or over a course that included disturbances such as small steps. In addition, the robot is extremely light, compact, and robust and can be easily assembled from materials that are inexpensive and readily available.
Faithful reproduction

Video: Cheetah-Cub Quadruped Robot Runs Like A Cat

The machine's strengths all reside in the design of its legs. The researchers developed a new model with this robot, one that is based on the meticulous observation and faithful reproduction of the feline leg. The number of segments – three on each leg – and their proportions are the same as they are on a cat. Springs are used to reproduce tendons, and actuators – small motors that convert energy into movement – are used to replace the muscles.

"This morphology gives the robot the mechanical properties from which cats benefit, that's to say a marked running ability and elasticity in the right spots, to ensure stability," explains Alexander Sprowitz, a Biorob scientist. "The robot is thus naturally more autonomous."

Sized for a search

According to Biorob director Auke Ijspeert, this invention is the logical follow-up of research the lab has done into locomotion that included a salamander robot and a lamprey robot. "It's still in the experimental stages, but the long-term goal of the cheetah-cub robot is to be able to develop fast, agile, ground-hugging machines for use in exploration, for example for search and rescue in natural disaster situations. Studying and using the principles of the animal kingdom to develop new solutions for use in robots is the essence of our research."

Quantum Day

17 June 2013

Quadruped Cheetah-Cub Robot Developed Through Biomechanics