A legged robot that mimics the locomotion of a land tortoise has been introduced. Developed by a team of researchers in Korea, this robot significantly improves energy efficiency. It is expected to have future applications as a transport robot.
Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) announced on the 5th that a research team led by Professor Yoon Dong-won of the Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering has developed a robot that mimics the posture and gait of a land tortoise. The research findings were recently published in the international journal ‘Advanced Intelligent Systems’. The study was also featured as the cover article for the journal's March issue.
While legged robots can overcome terrain and environmental constraints to enhance mobility, they have a significant drawback: they consume more energy than wheeled robots.
The research team focused on the land tortoise, an animal known for its high energy efficiency relative to its weight. Land tortoises use a unique walking method, moving diagonal legs simultaneously while dragging their bellies on the ground. This gait is known to reduce the tortoise's energy expenditure while moving.
The legged robot, which mimics the joint structure and movements of a land tortoise, indeed consumed less energy during locomotion. The research team confirmed through simulations that this walking method consumes less energy compared to other methods, even when variables such as the robot's size and mass were altered. Experiments conducted under various conditions produced the same results. This demonstrates that imitating the walking style of a land tortoise can improve the energy efficiency of quadrupedal robots.
Professor Yoon Dong-won, who led the study, stated, “We will work to ensure that this achievement can be applied to various fields of legged robotics where gait and energy efficiency are critical, such as industrial sites and exploration.”
