. 24/7 Space News .
ROBO SPACE
Scientists invent new, faster gait for six-legged robots
by Brooks Hays
Lausanne, Switzerland (UPI) Feb 17, 2017


disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only

Robotics engineers often find their inspiration from nature. For six-legged robots, a nature-inspired gait proved an impediment to maximum speed.

Researchers at the University of Lausanne and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, UNIL and EPFL, wanted to find out if there was a faster way for their insect-inspired robot to scurry.

Most insects walk with a tripod gait, keeping three legs in contact with the ground at all times.

"We wanted to determine why insects use a tripod gait and identify whether it is, indeed, the fastest way for six-legged animals and robots to walk," researcher Pavan Ramdya said in a news release.

Using the fly species Drosophila melanogaster as a model, researchers built a computer simulation to test different gaits. The computer simulation employed an evolutionary-like algorithm, designed to generate gait patterns and test for optimum performance.

The model showed the traditional tripod gait is most effective for an insect climbing a wall. However, the gait requires adhesive pads for the feet, an attribute robots don't have. For a basic floor walk with no adhesive booties, the algorithm determined a bipod gait, with only two feet on the floor, was faster and more efficient.

Researchers published their findings in the journal Nature Communications.

"Our findings support the idea that insects use a tripod gait to most effectively walk on surfaces in three dimensions, and because their legs have adhesive properties. This confirms a long-standing biological hypothesis," said Ramdya. "Ground robots should therefore break free from only using the tripod gait."

When scientists raced two six-legged robots, each with a different gait, the bot sporting the bipod gait won.

Researchers also tested the gait of flies wearing tiny booties designed to negate the advantages of their adhesive pads. Flies with booties on their feet naturally adopted a bipod gait.

"This result shows that, unlike most robots, animals can adapt to find new ways of walking under new circumstances," said researcher Robin Thandiackal. "There is a natural dialogue between robotics and biology: Many robot designers are inspired by nature and biologists can use robots to better understand the behavior of animal species.


Comment on this article using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
All about the robots on Earth and beyond!






Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
ROBO SPACE
No sad endings for Japan's virtual romance fans
Tokyo (AFP) Feb 11, 2017
Japanese book editor Miho Takeshita is having an affair. But the recently married 30-year-old is not worried about getting caught - her boyfriend only exists on a smartphone. Takeshita is a fan of romance simulation games, a booming market in Japan that is winning the hearts of women looking for some unconventional loving. "It's very addictive," Takeshita said. "Even though the gam ... read more


ROBO SPACE
Looking to the future: Russia, US mull post-ISS cooperation in space

Progress Underway for First Commercial Airlock on Space Station

A new recruit for ESA's astronaut corps

The Outer Space Treaty has been remarkably successful - but is it fit for the modern age?

ROBO SPACE
Airbus Safran Launchers: 77th consecutive successful launch for Ariane 5

India puts record 104 satellites into orbit

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket vertical at Florida's Kennedy Space Center

India to launch record 104 satellites next week

ROBO SPACE
ISRO saves its Mars mission spacecraft from eclipse

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter plays crucial role in search for landing sites

Angling up for Mars science

Swirling spirals at the north pole of Mars

ROBO SPACE
China looks to Mars, Jupiter exploration

China's first cargo spacecraft to leave factory

China launches commercial rocket mission Kuaizhou-1A

China Space Plan to Develop "Strength and Size"

ROBO SPACE
NASA seeks partnerships with US companies to advance commercial space technologies

A New Space Paradigm

Why it's time for Australia to launch its own space agency

Government announces boost for UK commercial space sector

ROBO SPACE
Terahertz chips a new way of seeing through matter

Cooling roofs and other structures with no energy

Researchers engineer thubber a stretchable rubber that packs a thermal conductive punch

Penn researchers are among the first to grow a versatile 2-dimensional material

ROBO SPACE
NASA finds planets of red dwarf stars may face oxygen loss in habitable zones

Dwarf star 200 light years away contains life's building blocks

Santa Fe Institute researchers look for life's lower limits

Dedicated Planet Imager Opens Its Eyes to Other Worlds

ROBO SPACE
NASA receives science report on Europa lander concept

New Horizons Refines Course for Next Flyby

It's Never 'Groundhog Day' at Jupiter

Public to Choose Jupiter Picture Sites for NASA Juno









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.