This research project is about designing better legs for legged robots. When a robot needs to move across rough terrain, as would be the case when searching for victims in a disaster area, legged robots have advantages over wheeled or tracked robots. They can traverse such terrain more easily, for example, stepping over fallen beams and bricks. However, legged robots are inherently more complex. They have many more joints and are more difficult to control. The goal of the project is to use ideas from nature to overcome some of these difficulties. The shape and compliance of four-legged animals...

Jake Abbott (PI), in collaboration with researchers at the University of Utah and Vanderbilt University, was awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIDCD) grant “Magnetic Guidance for Improved Cochlear-Implant Insertion.” $1,842,850. 8/1/2014-7/31/2019....