The 54-foot quadruped robot X2-VelociRoACH holds the title of the fastest-running legged robot in its category. This compact machine can move at an impressive speed of 4.9 meters per second, and when you watch it in motion, its four-legged gait resembles a powerful burst of energy. In general, robots that walk on legs have two main options to increase their speed: either take longer strides or increase the number of steps per second. X2-VelociRoACH has opted for the first approach—maximizing stride length.
When designing a real cockroach, biological limitations such as muscle strength and skeletal structure restrict how many steps it can take in a given time. As a result, cockroaches naturally increase their stride length to achieve higher speeds. However, the team from the Bionic Millisystems Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley, isn’t creating a copy of a cockroach—they’re building a robot. This means they aren’t bound by the same biological constraints.
Since X2-VelociRoACH is a robot, its legs are directly powered by motors, which eliminates the possibility of adjusting stride length. Instead, the researchers focused on increasing the number of steps per second. They managed to reach about 45 steps per second, breaking their previous record.
The only limiting factor now is physics. While the team could theoretically push the robot to even more steps per second, the materials used might not be able to handle the increased stress, potentially causing parts to fly off. Therefore, the current speed of X2-VelociRoACH is likely constrained by the materials available.
Looking ahead, the next phase of research will focus on developing stronger and more advanced materials. “It’s achievable to get more dynamic performance from this robot,†the researchers stated. If they can find better ways to enhance the design or use new materials, they may be able to further increase the step frequency.
The legs of VelociRoACH are made from fiberglass, and the team uses 3D-printed components to boost structural strength. However, the range of composite materials available for 3D printing is still limited, which in turn limits the robot’s speed. As 3D printing technology advances and more materials become available, the maximum step frequency that the robot’s legs can withstand is expected to rise.
This development suggests that faster-running robots may soon be on the horizon, revolutionizing the field of robotics and opening up new possibilities for high-speed locomotion in various applications.
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