New robot leg design becomes more human, more deadly

Your regular, inefficient robot legs getting you down? Maybe you should check in with researcher Jonathan Hurst and his robo-leg project under development at Oregon State University. Apparently most jointed legs driven by motors have a tough time recycling energy due to a lack of snapback from proper tendons, but Hurst's work hopes to clear all that noise up. By utilizing a new design powered by steel cable tendons with built-in springs, roboticists want to get closer to the 40 percent retention of energy our fancy human legs get up to. While a student at CMU, Hurst created "Thumper," a single leg attached to a boom that puts his theories in motion, and he's collaborated on bi-pedal models more recently. The hope is to eventually create robots with more natural, animal-like gaits, which will allow them to run towards or chase their human victims and terminate them with a more ruthless intensity. Check the video after the break to see exactly what we mean.

[Via Medgadget]

[M.Samba @ Sep 10th 2008 8:35AM]

Well that's utterly terrifying

[JAmerican @ Sep 10th 2008 11:30AM]

Metal Gear Solid 4 anyone?

[Blackstar @ Sep 10th 2008 11:44AM]

Until they can make them look like Summer Glau, I'll wait.

[gad get @ Sep 10th 2008 6:47PM]

@ Blackstar

She's amazing.

[Kenny @ Sep 10th 2008 8:39AM]

Id like to be the first to welcome out new advanced legged robot overlords

[YAG @ Sep 10th 2008 8:46AM]

News?
uh... isn't this a copy of Boston Dynamics robotic mule leg from way back (2006)?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3W8dm5JxFc

[DigDug @ Sep 10th 2008 9:08AM]

It uses some of the same technology. However instead of a 4 legged robot, using this leg tech with two legs and upright actually will be a big deal if it works. Because at that point you can have robots 6 feet tall that can run on a track just about as well as humans. We will see this in 12 years. Trust me ;-)

[Meridimus @ Sep 10th 2008 8:40AM]

Totally awesome.

[superted @ Sep 10th 2008 8:47AM]

Makes me wonder what happened to poor old Asimo after he fell down the stairs so publicly that time.

sadface.gif

[Ignatius @ Sep 10th 2008 9:09AM]

This will go great with Robo Hand! developed by Mythbusters. :P

[konshuss @ Sep 10th 2008 9:18AM]

LEG: "aaaahghhh whaat aaaam iiiiiiii"

[kal326 @ Sep 10th 2008 9:21AM]

Great faster legs really kinda negates that 120 second head start you get after you knock one of those things on its ass.

[Andad @ Sep 10th 2008 11:43AM]

Terminator reference +1

[Zhalfim Deyn @ Sep 10th 2008 10:45AM]

ED-209 could have used this

[HogCall @ Sep 10th 2008 11:00AM]

Where is John Connor?!?!?

[Ricksta @ Sep 10th 2008 11:42AM]

Just in time for Tom Brady...

[Keith @ Sep 10th 2008 1:35PM]

Hahhahahah.

[Crayola @ Sep 10th 2008 2:01PM]

Not another biped robot! If computer scientist has the Turing Test, I suggest the Hulo Hoop Test for biped robot as the benchmark of human defying agility.

[AlphaTeam @ Sep 10th 2008 2:17PM]

Terminator!

[Saul @ Sep 10th 2008 2:43PM]

I don't think this is a copy of the Big Dog leg. From my understanding the Big Dog leg uses hydraulic motors at each leg joint (with torque sensors) and only has 1 passive linear spring at what might be considered the calf. Please, if I'm wrong let me know.

[Ray @ Sep 10th 2008 4:17PM]

LEGBOT FOR PRESIDENT!

[Wwhat @ Sep 10th 2008 6:45PM]

Hmm, it's a thing attached to a pole that moves a bit, that's not the same as a leg, any kid can make this in this form, wake me when you got something.
Oh and incidentally, you can see more advanced stuff on construction sites in active use.

[JAY @ Sep 11th 2008 11:37AM]

I saw this story on hardocp and it made me wonder what comment engadget would have about it. I've got out of the habbit of checking this site every day like I used to but sure enough, three pages in and here's a picture of that robot leg, with a funny comment about how it spells doom for us all down the road. lol! Thanks Engadget!

[skulldriveshaft @ Sep 12th 2008 4:20AM]

Excellent!

Lamer posts fade into obscurity, and Robot Leg is there to kick sand in their faces.

Now where's Robot Chicken?