Researchers Build Robotic Stick Insect Named Hector

Posted on December 17, 2014

Researchers from Bielefeld University have built a robot modeled on a stick insect. The robot's named is Hector. It has passive elastic joints, six legs and an ultralight exoskeleton. It also utilizes what the researchers call the Walknet, a "biologically inspired decentralized reactive control concept."

Hector has a total of 18 elastic joint drives. The joint drives were inspired by biology and enable Hector to adjust its walk to the different surfaces it is walking on.

Professor Dr. Axel Schneider, the head of the Biomechatronics research group at Bielefeld University, says in a statement, "However, elasticity alone is not enough for Hector to be able to walk through a natural environment containing obstacles. The challenge was to develop a control system that would coordinate the movements of its legs in difficult surroundings as well."

Schneider's colleague Jan Paskarbeit developed and built the robot. Paskarbeit also developed a a virtual version of Hector so the robot could be tested without damaging the robot itself. The researchers are already working on the next step for Hector which includes two lateral cameras and two tactile feelers. These visual and tactile systems were also inspired by those of insects.

Here is a video of Hector walking. The video shows Hector crossing some difficult uneven terrain - a path filled with pebbles. Take a look:

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