A spinoff firm consisting of engineers from Oregon State University, recently unveiled a dynamic walking robot they called Cassie. Ostrich-like in features, the bipedal robot promises to undertake a range of tasks for humans someday, from delivering packages to helping in search-and-rescue operations. The robot’s creators formed Agility Robotics, funded by a $1 million, 16-month grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the experimental research arm of the US Department of Defense. To date, Agility says it now has a few customers. On its website, Agility Robotics highlighted its thrust of designing and building machines capable of handling highly dynamic maneouvres. They may navigate areas quietly – humming only with the sound from its electric motor and footfalls – but their intended purposes can be far-reaching. Building the bipedal robot was no mean feat. Agility Robotics built upon a simple spring-mass model, originally created to explain animal running and walking gaits. The company targeted the agility, efficiency and robustness of animal locomotion. Cassie’s predecessor, ATRIAS, was also built by some of the roboticists from Oregon State University. Cassie is proof that an academe’s world-class robotics program can churn out groundbreaking devices. Other companies have ventured into robotic technologies that can find their way to people's homes. Starship Technologies has created robots, which are basically autonomous rovers that can pass busy sidewalks, that can complete local deliveries within 30 minutes from a local hub or retail outlet. The robot's location can be tracked by customers through a mobile app and on arrival only the app holder can unlock the cargo. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a technical professional organisation dedicated to advancing technology, noted that ATRIAS set the stage for Cassie. ATRIAS was the first machine to exhibit human-like gait dynamics and implement spring-mass walking. However, its use was more for scientific demonstration than other functional purposes. With powered ankles that can allow it to stand in place (or sit, squat and crouch) and with most of its building materials custom-made, Cassie is a far more efficient robotic innovation than ATRIAS. Referred to as an ostrich bot by some people, Cassie was made to be resistant to stumbles and can absorb shock in a natural way. There is no need for a safety harness in case the robotic creation falls. Such robotic legged locomotion will enable live, real-time sensing with human-like mobility. Cassie will be navigating existing roads and walkways. With robust legs come great responsibilities: Cassie’s applications may be suited for numerous industries. Apart from package delivery services, it may eventually be finetuned for heavier tasks like disaster relief or nuclear plant inspection. The bot may also be utilised in the future for scouting ahead into unknown spaces and serving as a mobile sensor platform. In other news, robotic technologies are increasingly being used in the hospital setting. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology team recently deployed a robot to help nurses when making decisions about staffing and patient assignments. The team designed a little robot named Ginger and the robot's suggestions were accepted 90 percent of the time. The robotic innovation has been tested at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.
Agility Robotics has unveiled a dynamic walking robot called Cassie that can do a range of tasks, from delivering parcels to helping search and rescue operations. The robot, which is controlled by an app on your smartphone, uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology developed at the University of Washington in Seattle. Agility Robotics is a spin-off firm of engineers from Oregon State University and is funded by a $1m, 16-month grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the research arm of the US Department of Defense.