Getting robots to walk on two legs at all is certainly not easy, but getting them to walk like humans is harder. When humans walk, we shift our balance in such a way so that we’re constantly falling forward a little bit. It’s an unstable motion that’s very energy efficient, but hard for robots to duplicate since it requires dynamic regulation of movement. Flame, a 1.3m tall humanoid robot developed by TU Delft Ph.D student Daan Hobbelen, has a balance organ, seven motors, and a bunch of springs that all work together to make it the most advanced human-like walking robot in the world (according to its creator, anyhow). I’m not sure how to judge that claim, but even with all his metal bits exposed, Flame’s gait is noticeably humany. Video of Flame walking, after the jump.
I know it kinda looks like it’s about to fall over, but I think we can blame that on whoever’s holding the camera. And I have no idea where its name (or head) comes from.
[ TU Delft ] VIA [ Physorg ]
http://www.botjunkie.com/2008/05/23/flame-robot-walks-like-human-has-nifty-head/