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Robot 'learns' to walk like a human

WASHINGTON - The difference between man and machine is shrinking. Scientists have developed a robot that "learns" to walk like a toddler, improving its step and balance with every stride.

The walking robot looks more like a moving Erector set than a human, but the machine has the unmistakable gait of a person strolling along. The robot uses its curved feet and motorized ankles to spring its legs forward, its arms swinging at every step to help with balance.

Researchers this past week showed off the learning, walking robot at the national meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. A report on the research appears this week in the journal Science.

The machines use what the researchers called a "passive-dynamic design" that mimics the way humans walk. Earlier robots required powerful machines to stroll, with each leg, knee and ankle requiring motorized assistance. The effort requires a lot of energy.

The passive dynamic design uses gravity, along with muscle-like springs and motors. The energy required is a fraction of that needed by other walking robots, said Andy Ruina, a Cornell University researcher.

Ruina said the robots move like humans, falling and catching themselves as they move forward.

"We let the machines take care of a lot of the motion," he said. In contrast, most walking robots, such as Asimo, developed by the Honda Motor Co., require a motor to power every motion.

A robot designed by Russ Tedrake of Massachusetts Institute of Technology is equipped with sensors that help the machine learn to walk similar to humans. The machine is called "Toddler."

[Last modified February 18, 2005, 19:08:03]