Effortless robot movements

Four-legged animals that start walking and gradually pick up speed will automatically fall into a trot at some point. This is because it would take more energy not to change gait. This correlation was discovered more than 40 years ago. Now, Alin Albu-Schäffer, a professor at the Chair of Sensor-based Robotic Systems and Intelligent Assistance Systems at TUM, has successfully transferred this method to the movement of robots.

Experts use the term 'intrinsic dynamics' for the way humans and animals perform energy-efficient movements. For example, they adjust the stiffness of their muscles when they walk on a more rigid surface. These intrinsic adaptations, which happen automatically, are challenging to identify in humans and complex robotic systems.

Tool filters out the most economical movements

But a new tool developed by a team led by Prof. Albu-Schäffer at TUM makes this possible: "For the first time, we have succeeded in making these ...