Bimodal Quadruped Robot (BiQu)

Legged robots have been used for workflow automation, deployment in hazardous environments, and variety of other tasks. The task requirements determine which type of legged robot to use, limiting to one form of locomotion. For example, when traversing uneven terrains, one can benefit from the stability of quadruped robots. When it comes to manipulating objects, reaching high objects, or navigating in narrow spaces, the dexterity of bipedal robots might be beneficial.
What if the robot has all these together?

Bimodal Quadruped Robot

The focus of this project is on the development of a quadruped robot named Solo 12, which will be integrated to switch seamlessly between quadrupedal and bipedal modes of lo- comotion. This adaptability makes it ideal for navigating unstructured environments. The project delves into the integration of dynamic control system, technical aspects of the robot’s development, including hardware architecture, electronics installation, and software stack with an emphasis on locomotion controls. Additionally, the project explores the use of computer vision technology for person tracking.

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Our Objectives

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Our Sponsors and Partners

We would also like to thank our sponsors: ODrive Robotics, ProtoLabs, MathAltitude School of Mathematics, and Greensea Systems. Their generous donations have allowed us to turn our vision into reality.

Protolabs - Cool Idea Award

We have teamed up with Protolabs in an exciting partnership to bring the Bimodal Quadruped Robot (BiQu) to life. With the support of Protolabs' 3D printing service, we were be able to manufacture the crucial actuator modules needed for the BiQu: high-strength and high-precision transmission pulleys in each joint. Protolabs provides us a generous manufacturing grant and offer their engineering expertise to ensure the design is optimized for production. This partnership is an incredible opportunity for us to collaborate, innovate, and inspire others in the field of robotics. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Protolabs for their support and belief in the potential of the BiQu project.

MathAltitude School of Mathematics - Lab Visit

We would like to extend our gratitude to MathAltitude for the incredible opportunity to host a group of enthusiastic students on a remarkable lab tour at WPI campus. Their genuine enthusiasm and keen interest in our work left a lasting impression on our team. The students raised a lot of interesting questions and ideas during the visit, wowing our team with their potentials and vision. We are immensely thankful for MathAltitude's support and partnership, and we eagerly look forward to continuing our academic journey together.