A wheel-leg hybrid robot inspired by the centaur, which is the mythical creature with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse, has been developed by a Chinese robotics company.
According to Run Robotics, the AI-powered machine, which marries wheeled mobility and legged locomotion to enable both high-speed movement and the ability to navigate complex terrain, is designed for applications such as autonomous inspection, firefighting and emergency rescue operations.
Source: Run Robotics
The team of developers explained that unlike conventional humanoid robots that rely on bipedal walking, the centaur-like robot features a split-body design that pairs a four-wheel all-terrain chassis with a human-like upper body outfitted with robotic arms.
This design allows the centaur-inspired robot to use its wheeled lower body to rapidly travel across rugged terrain while its upper body performs complex physical tasks such as autonomous inspections, firefighting, emergency rescue, mining operations, oilfield inspections and industrial maintenance, among others.
Run Robotics explained that the centaur-inspired robot is designed to meet explosion-proof requirements while also remaining lightweight and reliable. Further, it is capable of carrying a typical payload of 220 lb to 265 lb, and it supports a maximum static load of 463 lb. Meanwhile, the upper body of the robot can also be outfitted with different upper-body configurations such as dual robotic arms, dexterous hands and multidimensional force sensors — according to operational requirements.
Additionally, the robot features an environmental perception system that incorporates lidar, binocular vision and depth cameras. Altogether, the system allows the robot to identify pipelines, valves, gauges, obstacles and people, assess their positions and status, autonomously plan routes, avoid obstacles and locate operational targets.
For more on the centaur-inspired robot, watch the accompanying video that appears courtesy of Run Robotics.
