Two legged robot that walks like an animated character

New York: In an interesting development, Disney researchers have found a way for a robot to mimic an animated character's walk. Beginning with an animation of a diminutive, peanut-shaped character that walks with a rolling, somewhat bow-legged gait, Katsu Yamane and his team at Disney Research Pittsburgh analysed the character's motion to design a robotic frame that could duplicate the walking motion using 3D-printed links and servo motors, while also fitting inside the character's skin.

They then created control software that could keep the robot balanced while duplicating the character's gait as closely as possible. Roboticists, however, wrestle with physical constraints throughout the process of creating a real-life version of the character. The robots will need to not only look like the characters, but move in the way people are accustomed to seeing those characters move.