Robot LEO demonstrates hybrid locomotion

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Researchers at Caltech have built LEO, a bipedal robot that combines walking with flying to create a new type of agile and nimble locomotion. 

According to CALTECH, LEONARDO (LEgs ONboARD drOne, or LEO) can walk a slackline, hop, and ride a skateboard. Developed at Caltech's Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST), LEO is said to be the first robot that uses multi-joint legs and propeller-based thrusters to achieve a fine degree of control over its balance.

A paper detailing LEO was featured on the October 2021 cover of Science Robotics.

"We drew inspiration from nature. Think about the way birds are able to flap and hop to navigate telephone lines," said Soon-Jo Chung, corresponding author and Bren Professor of Aerospace and Control and Dynamical Systems. "A complex yet intriguing behaviour happens as birds move between walking and flying. We wanted to understand and learn from that."

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"There is a similarity between how a human wearing a jet suit controls their legs and feet when landing or taking off and how LEO uses synchronised control of distributed propeller-based thrusters and leg joints," Chung added. "We wanted to study the interface of walking and flying from the dynamics and control standpoint."

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