MIT's Quadrupedal Robot Can Run, Jump & Climb Without the Use of Vision
The Cheetah 3 even gets up by itself when it stumbles.
MIT’s Cheetah 3 is a 90-pound robot that navigates its environment by touch, unlike Boston Dynamics’ SpotMini, which utilizes cameras. The MIT team didn’t want a robot that uses cameras for fear it would slow it down or make it stumble. They also wanted to build it with intentions for it to navigate areas humans can’t access like deep inside power plants for inspection purposes.
The team used algorithms and sensors instead, especially after a robot’s camera was fried while exploring the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. It is able to stretch and twist as well, not only to allow its flexibility when exploring but to also get it back up if it does, in fact, fall or trips. Check out the video above to see the Cheetah 3 in action and share your thoughts below.
In related news, SEGA & Kotobukiya are creating the largest mech model in history for an upcoming game.