Robotics

Bipedal hobby robot walks a tightrope

Bipedal hobby robot walks a tightrope
Dr. Guero's Primer-V4 robot works its way across the tightrope
Dr. Guero's Primer-V4 robot works its way across the tightrope
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Dr. Guero's Primer-V4 robot balances on the 4 mm tightrope
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Dr. Guero's Primer-V4 robot balances on the 4 mm tightrope
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Dr. Guero's Primer-V4 robot works its way across the tightrope
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Dr. Guero's Primer-V4 robot works its way across the tightrope
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A Japanese roboticist that goes by the handle Dr. Guero, famous for programming his hobby robot to ride a miniature bicycle and walk on stilts, has managed to get his robot to balance on a tightrope. His Primer-V4 robot is based on the Kondo KHR-3HV hobby kit (which can be purchased for around US$1,800), but features a few modifications that give it the ability to inch its way along a steel wire just over an eighth of an inch (4 mm) thick.

The following video shows Dr. Guero's robot as it slides its way along the wire, making minute adjustments to its balance by waving its arms. On his website, Dr. Guero explains that the robot's arms move in different directions based on signals from its inclination sensor. He had to modify the feet by adding grooves to help catch the wire – which seems like a fair modification given that human performers will use their toes to do the same thing. He also replaced the standard arms with ones that have fewer servos and parts to provide better balance.

Dr. Guero (aka Masahiko Yamaguchi) has worked at some prestigious labs, including Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Boston Dynamics, and Osaka University. His nickname, chosen by his wife, comes from the long-running comic and animated television show Dragon Ball Z, whose Dr. Gero is an evil scientist behind the Red Ribbon Androids. You can watch the tightrope trick below, and check out his earlier projects on his website.

Source: Dr. Guero's website (Japanese)

二足歩行ロボットに綱渡りをさせてみた( I tried to let the biped robot walk a tightrope.)

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3 comments
3 comments
Fahrenheit 451
Although the robot does not place one foot in front of the other to traverse the wire I am impressed as the mount/dismount and wire walk are all complicated feats!
ralph.dratman
Amazing if genuine
Thomas Lewis
the point is made that in the future these robots will save lives, help us in so many ways and yes in 100 years a robot may walk our childrens children to the bus stop.