Scientists develop a robot that can walk and fly

* This text was written by a columnist from TechWorld; Learn more at the end.

Advances in science are expected and acclaimed all over the world. The creation of new robots is often remembered when thinking about the future, and this field impresses many scientists. Most recently, scientists Keonam Kim, Patrick Spiller, Elena Sorina Lobo, Alireza Ramzani and Son Joo Chung. Submit a project for a robotic platform Multimedia movement called Leonardo.

The difference to the novelty lies in the fact that while many mobile robots specialize in land or air movement, “Leo” bridges the gap between two different systems of motion: flying and walking using the simultaneous control of distributed electric propulsion and a pair of articulated legs.

Therefore, the robot performs complex maneuvers that require delicate balance, such as tightrope walking and skateboarding, which present a challenge to current bipedal robots. Leonardo also demonstrates graceful walking motions intertwined with flight maneuvers to overcome obstacles using synchronous control of propellers and leg joints. Mechanical design and simultaneous control strategy achieve a unique multimodal motion capability that can enable robotic tasks and operations that would otherwise be challenging for single-mode motion robots.

Bipedal robots in particular have attracted a great deal of attention not only because of their human-like body shapes, but also because they can perform walking, running, and jumping over rugged and versatile terrain. Some advanced human-like robots can perform high-level tasks such as handling objects, climbing stairs, or driving a car. However, the ultimate goal of bipedal robots is to achieve human-like stability and strength in walking and running maneuvers over difficult terrain or in a complex indoor environment.

Leo weighs 2.58 kg and has a total height of 75 cm when walking. The robot consists of three main subsystems, namely the trunk, the propeller propulsion system, and two legs with pointed feet. Moreover, Leonardo can work completely independently with the on-board computers and sensor array. Your nominal walking speed is 20 cm/sec, and your overall ground speed can be greatly increased by using a choppy, close-to-ground ride. The project represents a major advance for robotics around the world and appears to be the first step toward a more technical future.

Fabiano de Abreu Rodriguez, columnist at TechWorld, holds a PhD and MSc in Health Sciences in the fields of neuroscience and psychology, majoring in the electrical properties of neurons (Harvard), Python programming at the University of the South Pacific and in artificial intelligence at IBM. He is a member of Mensa International, the association of the smartest people in the world, the Portuguese and Brazilian Society of Neuroscience and the European Federation of Neuroscience. He is director of the Center for Research and Analysis of Heraclitus (CPAH), IPI Intel Technology and is considered one of the leading national scholars for studies of intelligence and high IQ.