KAIST Quadruped Robot Finishes Marathon on a Single Battery Charge
aiinsider ·
Researchers at KAIST have successfully developed a quadruped robot named RAIBO2 that completed a full marathon on a single battery charge. The robot finished the Sangju Dried Persimmon Marathon in 4 hours, 19 minutes, and 52 seconds, covering 42.195 kilometers without any power swaps. This achievement was detailed in a study published in Nature, which highlights how the team treated endurance as a whole-system engineering problem. By jointly optimizing mechanical structures, electrical systems, actuators, and locomotion control, the researchers reduced energy consumption while maintaining high performance. During the race, the team collected extensive real-world data on energy use, thermal conditions, and movement synchronized with GPS tracking. Professor Jemin Hwang led the project, emphasizing the goal of connecting laboratory performance to reliable industrial applications. A faculty startup called Raion Robotics is now working to commercialize this technology for manufacturing environments. The research demonstrates a significant step forward in creating durable, long-lasting autonomous robots capable of operating continuously in real-world settings.
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