Foot trajectory as a key factor for diverse gait patterns in quadruped robot locomotion

Abstract Four-legged robots are becoming increasingly pivotal in navigating challenging environments, such as construction sites and disaster zones. While substantial progress in robotic mobility has been achieved using reinforcement learning techniques, quadruped animals exhibit superior agility by...

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Main Authors: Shura Suzuki, Kosuke Matayoshi, Mitsuhiro Hayashibe, Dai Owaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84060-5
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author Shura Suzuki
Kosuke Matayoshi
Mitsuhiro Hayashibe
Dai Owaki
author_facet Shura Suzuki
Kosuke Matayoshi
Mitsuhiro Hayashibe
Dai Owaki
author_sort Shura Suzuki
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Four-legged robots are becoming increasingly pivotal in navigating challenging environments, such as construction sites and disaster zones. While substantial progress in robotic mobility has been achieved using reinforcement learning techniques, quadruped animals exhibit superior agility by employing fundamentally different strategies. Bio-inspired controllers have been developed to replicate and understand biological locomotion strategies. However, a comprehensive understanding of the influence of foot trajectories on gait patterns is still necessary. This study provides a groundbreaking perspective on the essential impact of these trajectory shapes on robotic gait patterns and overall performance. By employing the Unitree A1 robot model with a bio-inspired neural control system, our simulations demonstrate that specific trajectory shapes effectively replicate diverse and natural gait patterns, such as trotting, pacing, and galloping, thereby improving adaptability to diverse terrains. Specifically, trajectories designed for pacing exhibit superior performance on rough terrain, excelling in efficiency and adaptability over other gaits. This study highlights the significance of foot trajectory in augmenting robotic locomotion and establishes a new benchmark for developing advanced robots that operate effectively in unpredictable environments.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
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publishDate 2025-01-01
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spelling doaj-art-99be8597d74f4c958fd96e27d026dccd2025-01-19T12:19:10ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111010.1038/s41598-024-84060-5Foot trajectory as a key factor for diverse gait patterns in quadruped robot locomotionShura Suzuki0Kosuke Matayoshi1Mitsuhiro Hayashibe2Dai Owaki3Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku UniversityDepartment of Robotics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku UniversityDepartment of Robotics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku UniversityDepartment of Robotics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku UniversityAbstract Four-legged robots are becoming increasingly pivotal in navigating challenging environments, such as construction sites and disaster zones. While substantial progress in robotic mobility has been achieved using reinforcement learning techniques, quadruped animals exhibit superior agility by employing fundamentally different strategies. Bio-inspired controllers have been developed to replicate and understand biological locomotion strategies. However, a comprehensive understanding of the influence of foot trajectories on gait patterns is still necessary. This study provides a groundbreaking perspective on the essential impact of these trajectory shapes on robotic gait patterns and overall performance. By employing the Unitree A1 robot model with a bio-inspired neural control system, our simulations demonstrate that specific trajectory shapes effectively replicate diverse and natural gait patterns, such as trotting, pacing, and galloping, thereby improving adaptability to diverse terrains. Specifically, trajectories designed for pacing exhibit superior performance on rough terrain, excelling in efficiency and adaptability over other gaits. This study highlights the significance of foot trajectory in augmenting robotic locomotion and establishes a new benchmark for developing advanced robots that operate effectively in unpredictable environments.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84060-5Foot trajectoryQuadruped gaitIntralimb coordinationLocomotionBiomechanicsDecentralized control
spellingShingle Shura Suzuki
Kosuke Matayoshi
Mitsuhiro Hayashibe
Dai Owaki
Foot trajectory as a key factor for diverse gait patterns in quadruped robot locomotion
Scientific Reports
Foot trajectory
Quadruped gait
Intralimb coordination
Locomotion
Biomechanics
Decentralized control
title Foot trajectory as a key factor for diverse gait patterns in quadruped robot locomotion
title_full Foot trajectory as a key factor for diverse gait patterns in quadruped robot locomotion
title_fullStr Foot trajectory as a key factor for diverse gait patterns in quadruped robot locomotion
title_full_unstemmed Foot trajectory as a key factor for diverse gait patterns in quadruped robot locomotion
title_short Foot trajectory as a key factor for diverse gait patterns in quadruped robot locomotion
title_sort foot trajectory as a key factor for diverse gait patterns in quadruped robot locomotion
topic Foot trajectory
Quadruped gait
Intralimb coordination
Locomotion
Biomechanics
Decentralized control
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84060-5
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AT kosukematayoshi foottrajectoryasakeyfactorfordiversegaitpatternsinquadrupedrobotlocomotion
AT mitsuhirohayashibe foottrajectoryasakeyfactorfordiversegaitpatternsinquadrupedrobotlocomotion
AT daiowaki foottrajectoryasakeyfactorfordiversegaitpatternsinquadrupedrobotlocomotion