Developing robots that can walk more naturally

Walking on two legs isn't as easy as it seems. Especially for robots, where a natural stride is a major challenge. Researchers at EPFL's Biorobotics Laboratory are testing novel systems to improve humanoids' ability to walk and interact. For humans, it comes perfectly naturally. But walking on two legs is actually a complicated task, requiring several muscles to perform delicate balancing acts. That's why humanoid robots still walk so awkwardly despite years of major technological advancements in the field. Engineers at EPFL's Biorobotics Laboratory are experimenting with new walking systems on a robot called COMAN, short for COmpliant HuMANoid Platform. This 95-cm-tall humanoid is designed specifically for studying walking - which is why it has no head.