Ostrich robot put on girololiki (2 photos + video)

Robotics masters all new spaces, andalmost every day there are new innovations of engineering thought; separate directions stand out, sometimes they compete with each other, and then, it happens, they suddenly intersect. So, for example, happened to supporters of robots with legs and those developers who defend the priority position of robots on wheels.

The first argue their choice by the fact thatinfrastructure, designed for two-legged people, is ready to accept robots with legs. However, those who advocate for robots on wheels have a trump card - the speed of movement.

It would seem that a simple way out is to make hybrid ones.designs. Some teams even go down this path, but most developers prefer to lead their robots along the path that people have already walked: change shoes into wheels when speed is needed.
The two-legged ostrich robot Cassie was put ongiroliki, like hoverboard, sawn in half. Even it is not easy for a person to control his body by moving him forward or backward on such a device, when each wheel acts independently of the other.

However, with the help of sensors built into the ostrich robot and performing all the calculations in real time, Cassie learned to drive around the campus confidently and completely autonomously.

He moves on uneven ground, overpowers the slide and descends from it, goes around obstacles and even passes them between his legs, finally - slides down the stairs.

The developers suggest that technicalthe characteristics with which Cassie is endowed, his control system and automation will allow the ostrich robot to actively move in urban areas, being involved in the delivery service, security bureau or rescue search squad.

On the two-legged robots, postmen already comingorders. Ford, for example, already has one. And she published a video in which their “worker” neatly took out the parcel from the unmanned van and carried it to the addressee’s door without stumbling.