Virginia Tech researchers reveal full-sized CHARLI-L humanoid robot (update: video!)
By Donald Melanson 
posted April 26th 2010 1:32PM
posted April 26th 2010 1:32PM
Dr. Dennis Hong was kind enough to give us a glimpse the CHARLI robot on The Engadget Show this weekend -- or its leg, anyway -- but he and his students have just now finally revealed the full-sized bot that's been described as a "robot teenager." As we'd heard, CHARLI is actually a series of robots that initially consists of the 5-foot tall CHARLI-L (or lightweight, pictured above), and the forthcoming CHARLI-H (or heavy), both of which are completely autonomous, with a full range of movements and gestures thanks to a series of pulleys, springs, carbon fiber rods, and actuators (not to mention some slightly more mysterious AI). What's more, while CHARLI-L is currently restricted to walking on flat surfaces, CHARLI-H promises to be able to walk on the uneven ground around the Virginia Tech campus, and eventually even be able to "run, jump, kick, open doors, pick up objects, and do just about anything a real person can do." Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any video of CHARLI-L in action just yet, and it is still somewhat of a work in progress -- the researchers say it will be able to speak soon, and they're also busily working to improve its soccer skills in time for this year's RoboCup.
[Thanks, Kyle]
Update: Video is now after the break!
[Thanks, Kyle]
Update: Video is now after the break!
Did anyone else read that as Chun-Li and then became disappointed?
I can't see the video, is it just me?
GREAT JOB Virginia Tech!
Keep up the great work!
I hate housework. I'm hoping a commercial version of CHARLI won't mind.
CHARLI-L's already practicing his "wave to countless robot minions after enslavement of mankind"-wave. This combient with your average alien invader-robot arm seen earlier, we're quite screwed.
first bipedal robot?
what about
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OrKyC_BWlk
boston dynamics appears to be much further ahead when it comes to natural walking
@caneaddict - Agreed. The claim that this is the first bipedal on this scale is ludicrous.
@dRoll
read: First -untethered- autonomous humanoid
@risknc: "We are the first to implement that [walking on two legs] on this kind of scale."
view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBUcfFbndVY (and the thousand other videos of Asimo)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1DuJQL8spY
Perhaps he meant the first in the U.S.
indeed, he did mean in the US
It amazes me that we have only made this much progress still.
I honestly expected humanoid robots to be able to run, jump, swim, and climb by this point. These guys are working on climbing stairs.
I just do eyes.
Skynet, I robot, Terminator.
this really makes me want to watch some android anime ^__^
@rdycrz92
Not cool.
I wish them all the best.
Where are the toes? (not meant to be sarcastic) so that you can shift the weight more easily? I think toes (on each corner of the foot) and an ankle would help with the walking... especially balance and weight transfer between legs.
@buoy
This version is meant to walk on level ground, thats why the legs are based on a parallel 4 bar mechanism, that being said, the feet are always parallel to the ground, and actuated toes wouldn't be much help ( though as I recall, we accidentally designed in toes in the first CAD model )
everything a human can do?
then will he be able to do a running jump into an unlocked door in order to open it?
no? then please don`t make presumptuous claims...