Posts Tagged ‘ranger robot’
Video: Ranger Robot Sets New Distance Record, Walking 40 Miles on a Single Charge
The robot’s , set in July of last year, was just 14.3 miles. Ranger’s handlers at Cornell were able to squeeze more mileage out of their robot by improving its efficiency through better overall control. Ranger gets by on far less power than most legged robots because, for the most part, its legs swing freely, catching the robot as it falls forward and pushing it into its next step.
So while watching Ranger go may not be the most exciting thing going in robotics right now, the waist-tall little ‘bot is something of a feat in consistency and efficiency. After all, it made 186,076 steps while covering more than 40 miles in this latest attempt, and never missed a step. That’s better than most humans can say.
Cue the Chariots of Fire and watch Ranger go in the video below. Of particular anti-climactic interest: the big finish, at the 3:40 mark.
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Video: Ranger Robot Sets New Distance Record, Walking 40 Miles on a Single Charge
The robot’s , set in July of last year, was just 14.3 miles. Ranger’s handlers at Cornell were able to squeeze more mileage out of their robot by improving its efficiency through better overall control. Ranger gets by on far less power than most legged robots because, for the most part, its legs swing freely, catching the robot as it falls forward and pushing it into its next step.
So while watching Ranger go may not be the most exciting thing going in robotics right now, the waist-tall little ‘bot is something of a feat in consistency and efficiency. After all, it made 186,076 steps while covering more than 40 miles in this latest attempt, and never missed a step. That’s better than most humans can say.
Cue the Chariots of Fire and watch Ranger go in the video below. Of particular anti-climactic interest: the big finish, at the 3:40 mark.
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Cornell’s Ranger Robot Power-Walks into the Record Books With 14.3-Mile Stroll
Ranger, developed by Cornell’s Biorobotics and Locomotion Lab, made 108.5 laps around the running track at roughly 700 feet per lap, logging something like 70,000 steps on a single charge. The untethered ‘bot was controlled remotely by human handlers using a simple toy remote control.
For Ranger, the record-breaking performance spelled redemption. Ranger set a record of 5.6 miles in 2008 only to see Boston Dynamics’ somewhat frightening and much larger more than double the record shortly thereafter, setting the new standard at 12.8 miles.
But it’s also about energy efficiency; while BigDog can climb hills, , and terrify children, Ranger walks with an efficient gate that emulates human walking, swinging its legs to take advantage of gravity and forward momentum. An understanding of the biomechanical tricks that allow robots to increase their efficiency should lead not only to breakthroughs in robotic design, but also in human prosthetics and rehabilitation.
The video below is a bit old, but it does show off the smooth gait that is the key to Ranger's walking prowess.
Sustained, self-contained locomotion is a major component in developing an all-in-one humanoid robot. You can read more on the sole American effort to do just that in our .
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