Building Robots That Can Go Where We Go

Robots have walked on legs for decades. Today's most advanced humanoid robots can tramp along flat and inclined surfaces, climb up and down stairs, and slog through rough terrain. But despite the progress, legged robots still can't begin to match the agility, efficiency, and robustness of humans and animals. Existing walking robots hog power and spend too much time in the shop. All too often, they fail, they fall, and they break. For the robotic helpers we've long dreamed of to become a reality, these machines will have to learn to walk as we do. We must build robots with legs because our world is designed for legs.