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Robot Lizard Can Quickly Climb a Wall, Just Like the Real Thing
Researchers at Australia's University of the Sunshine Coast built a robot with legs and feet programmed to mimic the gait of climbing lizards.
Credit: Christofer Clemente
A robot built by researchers at Australia's University of the Sunshine Coast has legs and feet programmed to mimic the gait of climbing lizards.
Tested against common house geckos and Australian water dragons in climbing up a carpeted wall, the robot had a 50% chance of falling when climbing at more than 70% or less than 40% of its maximum speed, and so maintained its grip by staying between those speeds.
The robot held fast with total success with forelimbs rotated outwards 20 degrees and hind limbs 100 degrees, and when its limbs were rotated inwards at the same angles.
Sunshine Coast's Christofer Clemente said the work proves that "if we want to build more efficient robots, the first place we should be looking is nature."
From New Scientist
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