This robot 'dog' can climb ladders, a first for four-legged robots
- Researchers successfully built a quadruped robot that's capable of climbing ladders.
- The robot was created by a team at Tokyo Metropolitan University and debuted earlier this month, IEEE Spectrum reported.
- It uses a 3D camera, touch and force sensors on its claws. A neural network - learning software that allows the robot to execute complex functions - enables it to navigate ladders.
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Four-legged creatures, both living and robotic, have historically had a hard time climbing ladders - until now.
Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have created a quadruped robot capable of climbing a vertical ladder without assistance, IEEE Spectrum reported.
The robot debuted at the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems earlier this month.
The achievement represents the latest physical feat by a quadruped robot that approaches the capabilities of living animals. Robot dogs made by other research teams have been trained to open doors, withstand destabilizing blows, and run across uneven ground.
While there's no single intended purpose researchers have in mind for quadruped robots, government agencies are already expressing interest - earlier this year, Massachusetts police began working with "Spot," a robot dog designed by Boston Dynamics.
Take a look at how Tokyo Metropolitan University's robot climbs ladders, bringing robots one rung closer to world domination: