The 'BionicKangaroo' is a Robot That Mimics the Hopping Movements of Kangaroos
Rahul Kalvapalle — April 7, 2014 — Tech
German automation technology company Festo has developed the 'BionicKangaroo', a kangaroo robot that mimics the unique biological motion of real kangaroos. Like the animal it was modeled on, the bionic kangaroo uses the kinetic energy it generates while jumping and stores it before efficiently utilizing it to pull off the next jump.
The bionic kangaroo is equipped with pneumatic and electrical drive technology to produce a dynamic system that results in a real-looking hopping motion. This roo-robot is constructed to be lightweight all over, facilitating a natural-looking jumping behavior.
Festo's bionic kangaroo doesn't merely replicate real kangaroos' physics; all its motions appear completely natural and fluid unlike the jerky and clearly human-engineered motions of less advanced bio-inspired robots.
The bionic kangaroo is operated using a gesture-control armband, which can be worn by a human controller who can control the bionic kangaroo's movements.
The bionic kangaroo is equipped with pneumatic and electrical drive technology to produce a dynamic system that results in a real-looking hopping motion. This roo-robot is constructed to be lightweight all over, facilitating a natural-looking jumping behavior.
Festo's bionic kangaroo doesn't merely replicate real kangaroos' physics; all its motions appear completely natural and fluid unlike the jerky and clearly human-engineered motions of less advanced bio-inspired robots.
The bionic kangaroo is operated using a gesture-control armband, which can be worn by a human controller who can control the bionic kangaroo's movements.
Trend Themes
1. Bio-inspired Robotics - The development of bionic kangaroos highlights the trend of bio-inspired robotics, where robots mimic the unique movements and behaviors of animals to achieve more efficient and natural motion.
2. Energy Harvesting - The bionic kangaroo's ability to generate and store kinetic energy through its jumps showcases the trend of energy harvesting, where technology is designed to capture and utilize energy from natural sources.
3. Gesture Control - The use of a gesture-control armband to operate the bionic kangaroo reflects the trend of gesture control interfaces, where technology enables users to interact with devices using natural body movements.
Industry Implications
1. Automation Technology - The development of bionic kangaroos has potential disruptive innovation opportunities in the automation technology industry, as companies can explore creating more advanced and efficient robots that mimic animal movements.
2. Robotics and AI - The trend of bio-inspired robotics showcased by the bionic kangaroo presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the robotics and AI industry, where developers can explore creating robots with more natural and fluid motions based on animal behaviors.
3. Renewable Energy - The energy harvesting capabilities of the bionic kangaroo highlight disruptive innovation opportunities in the renewable energy industry, as companies can develop innovative ways to capture and utilize energy from natural sources.
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