How can a robot adapt to the surface on which it circulates? Here are some of the keys to this new bill technology.
Robotics has incorporated multiple solutions over the last few years. The improvement of the software systems has served to add new functions and, of course, to implement solutions to improve those aspects in which relevant advances had already been achieved. Following this commitment, the introduction of novelties has become one of the hallmarks of those companies who have been working for years on their projects.
Naturally, MIT or Boston Dynamics are 2 of the most recognizable bodies in this regard. And, within their respective research centers, it is striking to see how Spot and a cheetah are the most advanced alternatives. Each one in its respective field is capable of developing actions with great potential for the next few years. Now, what happens if we focus on one of the 2 models in particular? The Cheetah has incorporated important updates.
One of the premises for having robotic units that can be autonomous is their ability to adapt to each specific terrain. Based on this, the arrangement of surfaces with different levels of adherence makes artificial intelligence tries to adapt each one of them. After all, you can’t send the same force to each leg on steep terrain as on completely flat terrain.
For this reason, a continuous learning system has been created that has had as its main reference adaptation of the switchboard to each of the surfaces. Based on this, it is capable of managing all the information to favor the movements of each leg in particular. As you can see, this requires great agility on the part of the software system.
Let us see, therefore, what this new approach proposed by the company consists of, why we are faced with a differential solution in terms of development and, of course, what implications the availability of a technology of these characteristics will have for the coming years.
The robotic mini cheetah capable of adapting to all types of asphalt
The first thing that draws attention is to see how this model has managed to increase its maximum speed compared to any previous record. On this occasion, a record of 14.04 km/h has been set, which demonstrates the improvement in ability to move from one place to another. However, the fundamental thing in terms of productivity is based on the development of a solution directly related to its adaptive capacity.
In the previous images it can be seen how throughout the learning process an improvement in the robot’s ability to circulate between the stones is achieved. It starts off stumbling, while finally getting send the necessary force to its robotic legs to be able to move. It is, as you can see, a process that may have important implications over the next few months in terms of its performance.
One of the most striking aspects of the progress made is directly related to the change in surface. Thanks to the incorporation of continuous tests, it has been possible to introduce parameters for make possible a change of surface without slipping. This is, it could be said, the main advantage offered by the solution proposed by this robotic unit. After all, the future humanoid should be able to adapt to the terrain it travels on, right?
Important advances to achieve practical applications for these robots
As has been observed over the last few years, important advances have been made in this area. In the past we have been able see how operators introduced traps to Spot. We have also been able to verify how the movements of the human being have been copied in a remarkable way until they become very natural. The passage of time and, above all, the largest investments in the field, are causing significant improvements in robotics to be observed.
The robotic cheetah is capable of improving its own movements over time. Europe Press
The prototype that has been seen in the previous images corresponds to a small-scale model. The original version is already capable of drive at a speed of 45.5 km/h, which shows to what extent we are facing a differential technology in terms of improvements in its performance. Taking into account all these advances carried out in recent years, what can we expect for the future?
Everything seems to indicate that, one day, the human being will live with humanoids created by the same. Even so, we will have to wait to see under what format this coexistence takes place, since artificial intelligence programs still have to introduce a whole series of variables to be exploited.
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