For a long time, researchers have been tried to create robots that can manage acrobatic movements such as spin jumps, backflips, etc. However, such tasks are rather hard to achieve for robots as they would require complex hardware designs, controlled algorithms, and motion planners. Moreover, to successfully perform highly dynamic behavior, it is necessary for robots to efficiently use actuators. Unfortunately, the robot designs that exist today cannot take on all hardware-related challenges like that of drop in voltage that can happen between velocity motions/ high torque.
Addressing these problems, researchers have recently designed a new humanoid robot supported by an actuator-aware kino-dynamic motion planner plus a landing controller. This new system will enable the humanoid robot to carry out actions like flips and other acrobatic movements. The new mechanism can be considered as a ground-shattering advancement for Humanoid Robot Market as through it, constraints revolved around highly dynamic robot behaviors when going through motion planning and control can be resolved.
Altogether, the humanoid robot design and the method could facilitate great acrobatic movements.
This research aimed to develop a realistic control algorithm that could help real humanoid robots do acrobatic acts. To accomplish this goal, the team started with experiments that identified the actuator performance and then denoted all the primary limitations existing in their motion planner.
They compared their robot with the ones already in existence and found that the actuators were mainline on which they could be distinguished from each other.
Thus, the research has resulted in drastic innovation in actuator technology, resulting in an outstanding performance by quadruped robots, namely, mini-cheetah and MIT Cheetah 1, 2, 3. The technology is represented by compact and robust form factors, highly back-drivable, and rapid and accurate torque control. This proves that compared to all the humanoid robots manufactured hitherto, the new one is immensely dynamic and efficient. This should facilitate the new robots in completing more demanding and intricate jobs.
Researchers tested their robot design, landing controller as well as motion planner through realistic simulations. The findings that were arrived at through this research seem to have great potential. This is because they provide hard evidence that the humanoid robots developed by the team would be able to perform several acrobatic actions such as spinning jumps, back and front flips. Furthermore, it has been revealed that these robots might also be highly efficient in completing a wide variety of sophisticated missions in the coming future. In the meantime, the team is set on testing their designs, control algorithm, and motion planner in real-life settings so that the technology could be further improved.