The noise around Robotics is more imminent these days with the DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals round the corner. The search to develop mechanistic wonders continues persistently and now a team at the Oregon State University’s Dynamic Robotics Laboratory (OSU) claims the ability of their bipedal humanoid robot to walk past difficult terrain without falling.

OSU team has designed this robot called ATRIAS, a blind humanoid bipedal robot that is capable of recovering from hurdles by planning its movements in advance since it cannot see the approaching obstacle.

ATRIAS is equipped with two legs made of carbon fibers. The legs are mounted on a series of elastic springs made of fiberglass, which act as a suspension system. These springy legs generate mechanical energy, helping the robot to walk and minimize the impact of a fall and thus enable it to have a more stable stroll.

Since, ATRIAS is not fitted with a navigation system or any spatial awareness sensors; therefore, it cannot sense hurdles in advance and take precautionary measures. The robot can only react to these obstacles once it encounters them.

The team has recently begun vigorous testing of this robot to ascertain its capabilities. A recent video released by the team shows ATRIAS maneuvering intelligently over a 15 centimeter step. The tests have revealed the ability of ATRIAS to restore its balance and avoid the fall even after planting its foot awkwardly on a hurdle.

The ultimate goal of the OSU scientists is to develop an agile robot, which can carefully and quickly cross highly tricky terrains and would find widespread application in robotic disaster rescue management.