It is true that it does not have four, but six legs. It can imitate canine senses. Likewise, it learns without problems from its owner. Its design is capable of overcoming any obstacle in complex urban environments. The robot dog that acts as a guide could help thousands of people in the future.
Shanghai Jiaotong University recently developed this new robot. They explain that the robot dog that acts as a guide emulates the capabilities of a guide dog. This guarantees the greatest possible accessibility for blind or visually impaired people.
Greater stability
During the tests, the robot dog demonstrated that its movements are fluid. It moves forward, stops, turns and reacts to the presence of nearby pedestrians and obstacles.
Researchers from the School of Mechanical and Energy Engineering at Jiaotong University did so. They explained that most robot dogs on the market have four legs. But this limits their powers to maintain balance. Because of this, they need to take continuous and linear steps, so as not to lose stability.
“Our model; However, it has six legs. He walks with three at a time, always forming a stable triangular base and ensuring that he can stand firm. “It doesn’t have constant movement,” said Chen Zhijun. He is an assistant investigator, cited by the agency CCTV+.
Memorize routes
The scientists in charge of the project also detailed that this novel guide dog does not need a constant Internet connection. And he can memorize a route indefinitely, once learned.
Additionally, through the cane, it can be linked to the specific needs of its user, such as the pace at which they walk. If the person pushes, the robot accelerates, and if they pull, it slows down or brakes.
There are more than 17 million people with visual disabilities. The development of robotic guide dogs is one of the priorities in mobility in China. It is a contribution that could benefit this sector of the population on a global scale.
