Pasadena Researchers Unveil Unique Robot That Can Skateboard, Walk a Slackline

In a project seeking to advance the field of robotic mobility, scientists at Caltech have unveiled a bipedal robot fitted with propellers with an unusual gate that lies between walking and flying.

The Legs Onboard Drone, or LEONARDO, made its appearance in a paper published Wednesday online in Science Robotics, and also featured on the cover of the journal’s October issue.

“Part walking robot, part flying drone, the newly developed LEONARDO — short for LEgs ONboARD drOne, or LEO for short — can walk a slackline, hop and even ride a skateboard,” Caltech said in a written statement. And the robots’ builders in Caltech’s Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies have the video to prove it.  Read more...