Communications of the ACM
Could This Be The Robot Servant Who Will Serve You Breakfast In Bed?
Kojiro moves more naturally than other humanoid robots due to is high-tech muscular-skeletal system.
Credit: Tokyo University
Tokyo University researchers have created Kojiro, a humanoid robot that is learning to mimic how people walk. Kojiro has a skeletal structure similar to that of humans, which allows it to move in a more natural way, as it can bend and twist by bending and twisting using its artificial spine. The spine's design will enable scientists to develop lighter and more flexible robots in the future, says Tokyo professor and Kojiro researcher Yuto Nakanishi.
Kojiro uses lightweight motors to pull cables attached to specific locations on the body, which simulates how muscles and tendons contract and relax when people move. Kojiro has 60 degrees of free movement using a system of about 100 cable-tendons. Sensors are used to keep track of Kojiro's various positions, and an accelerometer and two gyroscopes help the robot maintain balance.
The researchers say more work is needed on the algorithms that control the robot's movements to enable it to handle complex actions.
From London Daily Mail
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