Most robots are very monotonous: they either walk on two legs, or look like four-legged dogs. Researchers at Northeastern University of Massachusetts diversified the field of robotics with the Leonardo robot, which can walk on two legs, jump and even fly short distances. The developers are sure that he can overcome any obstacles, from barriers to fairly wide pits - is not the best robot for exploring distant planets?
The Leonardo's height does not exceed 80 centimeters, and its weight is 2.7 kg. With a low mass, the robot is very stable - this is achieved by using carbon fiber. The lightness allows the mechanism to take off to a low altitude with just two engines. Unfortunately, it is not as maneuverable as drones, but it does not need it. The robot is not designed for flying - thanks to its motors, it easily jumps over obstacles and lands safely on both feet.
The blade motors are necessary for the robot not only for long jumps, but also for maintaining balance. For us humans, this seems like a very simple task, but for robots it is something complex and especially important. One has only to remember the first versions of the ATLAS robot from Boston Dynamics - they stumbled almost at every step. Fortunately, by 2018, they have become so agile that they can even perform acrobatic stunts.
Such a flexible robot, of course, will be especially useful in science. For example, he will be able to explore the surface of other planets, which are full of craters and other irregularities.
Ramis Ganiev
