U. of Michigan Expert Puts Bird-Like Robot Through Its Paces

Cassie was built by Oregon-based Agility Robotics and purchased by Michigan researchers using grant money from the National Science Foundation and Toyota Research Institute. The robot's name is derived from the cassowary (KASS'-uh-WAIR'-ee), a flightless bird similar to an ostrich -- and has legs with backward-facing knees attached to a short torso that holds computers, batteries and motors.