Page 68 - Modern Robotics Building Versatile Macines

48 Modern Robotics

1986 Raibert moves to MIT, along with the Leg Laboratory
A two-legged (bipedal) robot can do flips and other
acrobatics

1989 A bipedal robot jumps through a hoop
1991 A kangaroo-like robot hops, using an articulated leg and tail
Raibert coauthors a paper that applies robot models to
animation
1992 Raibert becomes president of Boston Dynamics, seeking to
apply his robotics studies to animation
1995 Raibert leaves MIT and becomes president of Boston
Dynamics
2005 Boston Dynamics offers “Di-Guy” software providing realistic
human modeling for simulations
The Defense Department funds ongoing research in walking
“mule” robots to carry supplies for soldiers

Further Reading

Books
Raibert, Marc. Legged Robots That Balance. Reprint. Boston: MIT
Press, 2000.
Describes the principles, implementation, and simulation of dynamic
legged locomotion, including single-legged, bipedal, and quadrupedal
machines.

Articles
Budiansky, Stephen. “The Scientist Who Dances with Robots.” U.S.
News & World Report 117, 14 November 1990, n.p.
Popular introduction to Marc Raibert’s work with robots at the MIT
Leg Laboratory.
Hambling, David. “A Breed Apart: Robots Could Yet Hit the Big Time,
Now That the Pentagon Has Set Its Sights on the Four-Legged Variety.”
Guardian, February 24, 2005, n.p. Available online. URL: http://