A team of engineers at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) have created an ape-like robot that can successfully travel through its environment on all fours. This might not seem like a big deal at first, but the engineers constructed the mechanical ape's feet to mimic those of an actual ape, at least, as close as they could get it.
The robo-ape's feet can interact with the ground at multiple points, since it touches the ground in several ways, thanks to its naturally-shaped design. Its hind legs touch the ground at three points, while its hands balance its body while it moves. The robot's limbs are armed with a variety of sensors that help keep it aligned and keep it from bumping into things. The engineers also created iStruct, a system that allows the robot to use a basic movements to keep it balanced on a slope, of which you can watch a video of the ape balancing on a moving platform, here.
[via The Verge]
