Thanks to its self-perception programming, this robot dog can rescue people on difficult terrain. | Photo: J. Lee et al. (2020)

Whether covered in snow, debris, water or undergrowth – as surefooted as a dog, this robot will find its way across the most difficult terrain. The robotics specialists at ETH Zurich have also programmed it with self-perception so that it can learn to adapt its behaviour to its terrain independently. As a result, it can quickly navigate unknown ground. This quadruped is intended to be used wherever it’s impossible for vehicles to go, and where it’s too dangerous for human rescuers – such as when searching for the victims of earthquakes or mining disasters.

J. Lee et al.: Learning quadrupedal locomotion over challenging terrain. Science Robotics (2020)

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