Researchers at Shandong University in China have unveiled the Kou-III bipedal robot , designed with the assistance of a quadcopter system to optimize its mobility. This development seeks to overcome the stability and performance challenges historically faced by legged robots .
The Kou-III takes its name from Lie Yukou, a figure from Chinese mythology known for “riding on the wind.” This concept inspired the integration of rotors into the robot’s design, improving its balance and speed. The key innovation lies in a redesigned knee actuator that provides increased rigidity and stability, using a bridge mechanism instead of the traditional cantilever structure.
Kou-III, the bipedal robot that surpasses limits with integrated rotors
Tests conducted on Kou-III demonstrated its ability to walk and jump with increased stability . With the assistance of the rotor, the robot achieved a maximum speed of 1.1 m/s and a jump of up to 35.2 cm, outperforming other similar designs. These improvements also reduced variations in tilt during movement, confirming the effectiveness of the hybrid design.
The balance of the bipedal robot was achieved using a SLIP model. Source: Yuan Zeng
The research team highlighted that this combination of bipedal locomotion with quadcopter assistance could mark a new era for robots capable of adapting to complex terrain. In addition, the use of a carbon fiber torso and optimized weight distribution maximizes the energy efficiency of the system.
According to the researchers, “ This development underlines the importance of integrating auxiliary mechanisms such as rotors to improve stability and mobility in legged robots .” The full results of the study are available on the SSRN preprint server.
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Source and photo: SSRN
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