Watch a robot dog run a marathon faster than the average human
The quadrupedal machine finished the course in a solid four hours, 19 minutes and 52 seconds—and on just one battery charge
A new quadruped robot named RAIBO2 has set a record in the marathon, completing the 26.2-mile course in just four hours, 19 minutes, and 52 seconds. Running solely on one battery charge, RAIBO2 surpassed the average human marathon time, demonstrating significant advancements in energy-efficient robot design.
Researcher Choongin Lee, from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), explains that approximately two-thirds of a robot's energy consumption is lost as heat from motors and drive electronics, with the remainder expended on friction and footfalls. To optimize energy usage, the team focused on reducing leg weight, enhancing low-resistance motor boards, and allocating more power to a larger battery.
They also employed reinforcement learning techniques to train RAIBO2's walking style, ensuring soft foot placement and avoiding slips or overheating.
The robot's success hinges on its ability to recover battery power on downhill sections, extending its range to around 40 miles. While faster than other quadrupedal robots, RAIBO2 still requires human assistance during the marathon, as it lacks independent navigation capabilities. The robot carries a camera but lacks software to interpret the road, relying on a human operator for remote guidance.
To mitigate the energy costs associated with added autonomy, Lee's team is developing smaller onboard networks and sensors, aiming to enhance the robot's capabilities without significantly increasing power consumption.
Written by urgent.news from Scientific American's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
