Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed innovative technology that enables quadruped robots, such as the BERT robot, to move more efficiently using natural oscillation patterns. This advancement is based on “intrinsic dynamics,” a concept commonly observed in humans and animals.
How will intrinsic dynamics work in the BERT robot?
Humans and animals intuitively adjust the stiffness of their muscles based on the terrain, optimising their energy expenditure. This principle, difficult to replicate in robotic systems , is now computable thanks to the new tool developed by Professor Alin Albu-Schäffer’s team . According to Albu-Schäffer, the tool can identify movement patterns that, in an ideal frictionless environment, do not consume energy.
To translate these movements into the real world, robots need a precisely timed nudge, similar to how a child gets a push on a swing at the right moment. Annika Schmidt, a member of the research team, highlights the simplicity with which humans adjust this rhythm naturally – a complex challenge for automated systems.
The BERT robot, a quadrupedal automaton designed by Professor Albu-Schäffer, showed remarkable performance in comparative tests . When programmed to use these intrinsic movements, BERT moved more dynamically and efficiently than its counterparts using conventional methods, confirming the team’s hypothesis.
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Source and photos: Technical University of Munich
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