DAEJEON, SOUTH KOREA – A four-legged robot named “HOUND,” developed by the Dynamic Robot Control and Design Laboratory at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), has set a new record for the fastest 100-meter run by a quadrupedal robot.
HOUND achieved this feat with an impressive average speed of 11.26 miles per hour, completing the distance in just 19.87 seconds. The robot’s design was spearheaded by Young-Ha Shin, who emphasized the use of a single motor controller trained through reinforcement learning in simulation for this achievement.
This 45 kg robot, comparable in weight to an average adult male American bulldog, is equipped with lightweight feet specialized for sprinting and boasts a comprehensive range of motion. This is achieved through a unique configuration of hip and knee actuator modules and a belt-pulley system, which efficiently transmits motion to the knee joints.
A high-power transmission efficiency gearbox was selected for HOUND, and the motor was chosen for its instantaneous and steady performance, crucial for dynamic legged locomotion.
Beyond sprinting, HOUND has demonstrated remarkable versatility. It has successfully climbed a 22° slope, walked 3.2 km, and traversed a 35-cm-high obstacle. While it can reach higher speeds in simulations, real-world testing of these speeds is yet to be conducted.
HOUND’s achievement not only marks a milestone in robotics but also showcases the potential for advanced machine learning and robotic design in creating versatile and efficient robotic systems.