VIDEO: THESE ROBOTS CAN WALK LIKE HUMANS!

Technology achievements in humanoid robotics have developed over the years and one that challenge researchers are the fact that they haven't seemed to overcome replicating the natural movement which mimics humans. Engineers from L’école Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne’s bio-robotics laboratory are testing new walking algorithms on a platform called COMAN; short for COmpliant HuMANoid. This 95-cm-tall humanoid is designed specifically for studying walking, which is why the robot has no head. 

One of COMAN's distinguishing features is its joints which are integrated with elastic elements that give it greater flexibility when performing different tasks. 

The research team of EPFL designed a novel control algorithm for the robot which is based on the existing uniformity in the structure and dynamics of the robot, as well as the mathematical equations representing the robot dynamics. The control algorithm uses sophisticated computer programs to carefully analyze the data received from the robot – including its position, velocity and joint angles – and sends appropriate commands to the motors, telling the robots what to do in order to maintain the robot's balance. 

The algorithms developed by the skilled team of researchers are geared towards three types of real-world applications: the first is carrying out rescue missions in disastrous scenarios, the second is helping with banal tasks like carrying heavy boxes or moving objects, and the third is creating exoskeletons for the disabled. 

Have a look at the video below to see the COMAN robot do a walking experiment.