Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Skating Roller-Walker Robot

From Dr. Shigeo Hirose Robotics Lab at Tokyo Institute of Technology:

Roller-Walker uses an innovative method of propulsion.


When it is on a rough surface the feet are round pads so that it can walk on its four legs. When it gets to a smooth surface the pods flip over to make passive rolling wheels.


The robot pushes itself along like an roller skater on the four wheels.
By using the legs to push the passive wheels and propelling itself along, the robot design eliminates the need for extra motors, steering mechanisms and brakes for the wheels. The robot can go forward, backward, turn and pirouette in place.

Catch the movies here...
The skating movement is very impressive. It would easily hold its own on any roller-disco floor.

H∞RL

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's like those sneakers that have retractable wheels on the bottom as seen on TV.

9:51 AM, July 27, 2006  

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