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ROPID Can Jump And Run, Almost

by Evan Ackerman | Submitted Wednesday Oct 28, 2009 [06:53 PM]


If this little guy looks familiar, it’s because he was designed by Tomotaka Takahashi of Robo Garage, who also designed the Tmsuk T-52 Enryu Rescue Dragon. What, you can’t see the family resemblance? Okay, how about with that little record breaking Evolta robot? ROPID is Takahashi’s latest creation, and it shows: using three gyros (one in each leg plus one in the chest) and a bunch of awfully strong servos linked by belts ROPID can jump and even kinda run:

Technically, it’s not running unless ROPID manages to get both feet off the ground at the same time, and from the videos, it doesn’t look like that happens… Even ASIMO (who is several orders of magnitude larger and more complicated) barely manages to do this. So ROPID is really more of a power walker. But that’s okay, we won’t hold it against him, because he’s just so adorable with those glowy eyes and that cute little mouth. ROPID is a good listener too, able to respond to voice commands. What really sells him, though, is the fact that he emotes so well… Maybe that’s why he’ll be starring in a short film, coming soon to a film festival near you. For real.

Technically, it’s not running unless ROPID manages to get both feet off the ground at the same time, and from the videos, it doesn’t look like that happens… Even ASIMO (who is several orders of magnitude larger and more complicated) barely manages to do this. So ROPID is really more of a power walker. But that’s okay, we won’t hold it against him, because he’s just so adorable with those glowy eyes and that cute little mouth. ROPID is a good listener too, able to respond to voice commands. What really sells him, though, is the fact that he emotes so well… Maybe that’s why he’ll be starring in a short film, coming soon to a film festival near you. For real.

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Tags:jump  humanoid  bipedal  running  ROPID  Tomotaka+Takahashi 

(http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/10/28/ropid-new-robot-runs-jumps-8-centimeters-high-2-videos/)

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