RABBIT is a robot that its designers claim walks and balances like a human. Developed by researchers from the University of Michigan and France's Robotics and Artificial Entity (ROBEA) project, RABBIT has no feet. Instead, it pivots with each step on the stilt-like points at the end of its legs. As demonstrated on video, you can nudge the robot and its control software will help it regain its balance. From the U of M News Service:
(RABBIT co-developer Jessy) Grizzle's work has promising applications in designing human prosthetics.
"Our analytic method is very cost effective by reducing the amount of experimental work that goes into motion design," Grizzle said. "If you can take properties of a patient, their height, weight, how the valid leg functions, etc., maybe you could more quickly have the prosthetic adapt its characteristics to the person, instead of the person adapting his gait to the prosthetic—which is essentially what happens now. These things are dreams, we're not there yet. But you need principles to get there."
Other applications include rehabilitative walking aids for spinal injury patients, machines designed for home use that can climb stairs or robots for use in exploratory missions over rough terrain.
