Before this, we have seen robots that can run, walk, jump or make different movements. Now, Caltech engineers have succeeded in developing a robot that can both run and fly, as if it popped up in stories of robot invasion. The only difference between this robot and those creepy sci-fi stories is; its very cute tiny design and the fact that it can skateboard.
LEONARDO, or LEO for short, this small flying bipedal robot is still a prototype; However, in the future, it is possible for a full-fledged version to be deployed in difficult and dangerous tasks such as inspecting and repairing damaged infrastructures, supplying equipment to hard-to-reach places, and responding to natural disasters or industrial accidents.
The project could be used for difficult missions such as space exploration in the future.
Weighing just 2.58 kg and 75 cm tall, the robot LEO uses its multi-jointed legs to propel itself from the ground during takeoff, almost like a bird. During these jumps, LEO’s four propellers, oblique electric thrusters, synchronize. It provides a balanced stance thanks to its LEO heels, which walk as if they have heels on their feet; however, propellers come into play when necessary to provide more stability. The battery, sensors and all required processing power are housed in the body of the robot, meaning no complicated wiring and full autonomy.
The aim of the project is to examine the intersection between walking and flying from dynamic and control perspectives and, as the project’s engineers put it, “to provide unprecedented walking ability and solve the problems posed by hybrid motion”.
With the combined power of walking and flying, the team LEO; It aims to be able to perform a wide range of robotic tasks such as high-voltage line inspection and monitoring of high bridges. With the completion of the project, it is hoped that these tiny robots can be used for tasks such as examining aging infrastructures, working in major disasters and even exploring distant worlds.
In addition to all this, the Caltech team plans to create adaptive landing gear for take-offs and landings on more challenging terrain and surfaces. While it still has a long way to go, it’s true that LEO has huge potential as the first of a completely new type of robot.
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