Oregon State University develops first-ever bipedal robot that can run a 5K

Dr. Amy Compton-Phillips is the chief clinical officer and executive vice president for Providence St. Humanity is getting a peek into the future with a new bipedal robot named "Cassie," which ran a 5K recently in 53 minutes and only took two tumbles along the way. Agility Robotics, a company launched at Oregon State University, developed Cassie through a $1 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Four-legged robots have a big advantage over bipedal robots when it comes to stability and maneuverability, but researchers at OSU are using a "deep reinforcement learning algorithm" to make Cassie's ostrich-like legs run smoothly. "Deep reinforcement learning is a powerful method in AI that opens up skills like running, skipping and walking up and down stairs," Yesh Godse, an undergraduate in the lab, explained in a statement. Jonathan Hurst, a robotics professor at OSU, said that robots like Cassie will deliver packages and even help people in their homes.