When the Robotics and AI (RAI) Institute talks technology, it’s wise to take notice. The company was, after all, founded by Marc Raibert, who also launched robotics pioneer Boston Dynamics, the firm behind the astonishing Atlas robot and the dog-like Spot quadruped.
Massachusetts-based RAI Institute has just unveiled Roadrunner, a 15 kg (33 lb) bipedal-wheeled robot prototype. The intriguing design features remarkable versatility, thanks in part to its symmetrical, knee-jointed legs that allow it to move efficiently and avoid obstacles with ease.
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A short video (below) released by the Roadrunner team shows the robot effortlessly launching from a resting position before wheeling around on flat ground. You really start to take notice, however, when it smoothly tackles a set of steps, its wheels acting as feet to climb to the top. Roadrunner then rides down a ramp before tackling the obstacle
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