Human Emulation - Robonova-1
Forward Walking Test
We tested the walking motion of a Robonova-1 with no modifications, gyros or sensors using only the
preprogrammed walking motion provided by the manufacturer. The Robonova-1 had to walk a distance
equal to three body heights (12.2 inches X 3 = 36.6 inches). If the robot began to veer to one side, we
made no corrections and just let the robot keep on walking.
Forward Walking Test
We tested the walking motion of a Robonova-1 with no modifications, gyros or sensors using only the
preprogrammed walking motion provided by the manufacturer. The Robonova-1 had to walk a distance
equal to three body heights (12.2 inches X 3 = 36.6 inches). If the robot began to veer to one side, we
made no corrections and just let the robot keep on walking.
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NOTE: These robots are not meant for children. All of the humanoid robot models discussed on this website use
powerful servos that can pinch or even crush your fingers if you are not careful. Consult the recommended minimum
age from the manufacturer before allowing children to use any of these robots.
powerful servos that can pinch or even crush your fingers if you are not careful. Consult the recommended minimum
age from the manufacturer before allowing children to use any of these robots.
INTERPRETATION:
The Robonova-1 walked a distance equal to three body heights (or 36.6 inches) in an average time of 50.5 seconds, with an
average variance from a straight line of 5.5 inches, which is 45% of its body height. The robot took 35 steps on average to
complete the test. Consider that it takes an average human approximately 4 seconds to walk three body heights, taking just 8
steps. That means that the Robonova-1 is 12.6 times slower than a human, and takes 4.4 times as many steps to cover the same
relative distance.
This may not sound like great results but consider a few things. First, the Robonova-1 does not come preprogrammed with a
continuous walk cycle. As you can see from the videos, the walk cycle is only three steps. The robot operator must wait for the
robot to finish a walk cycle, and then press the button on the remote to initiate another cycle. Part of the variance in walking time
was due to operator error in not pushing the button at exactly the right time to start the next cycle.
Furthermore, the Robonova-1 is blind, deaf and has no sense of balance, but a human has all of these senses. The base model
Robonova-1 does not come equipped with any sensors or gyros, so the fact that it completed all 20 test runs without falling over is
surprising. The lack of sensors is most evident in the straight line test where the Robonova-1 wandered 45% of its body height on
average, but even a human child can walk in a straight line.
The Robonova-1 walked a distance equal to three body heights (or 36.6 inches) in an average time of 50.5 seconds, with an
average variance from a straight line of 5.5 inches, which is 45% of its body height. The robot took 35 steps on average to
complete the test. Consider that it takes an average human approximately 4 seconds to walk three body heights, taking just 8
steps. That means that the Robonova-1 is 12.6 times slower than a human, and takes 4.4 times as many steps to cover the same
relative distance.
This may not sound like great results but consider a few things. First, the Robonova-1 does not come preprogrammed with a
continuous walk cycle. As you can see from the videos, the walk cycle is only three steps. The robot operator must wait for the
robot to finish a walk cycle, and then press the button on the remote to initiate another cycle. Part of the variance in walking time
was due to operator error in not pushing the button at exactly the right time to start the next cycle.
Furthermore, the Robonova-1 is blind, deaf and has no sense of balance, but a human has all of these senses. The base model
Robonova-1 does not come equipped with any sensors or gyros, so the fact that it completed all 20 test runs without falling over is
surprising. The lack of sensors is most evident in the straight line test where the Robonova-1 wandered 45% of its body height on
average, but even a human child can walk in a straight line.
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Results for Test 2 were typical with
a 6.00 inch variance to the left
a 6.00 inch variance to the left
Results for Test 15 were quite
a surprise - no variance
a surprise - no variance
CONCLUSION:
The intent of the Human Emulation project is to determine how closely each robot mimics human behavior with a base model
robot, using only preprogrammed motions. While the Robonova-1 did not mimic human motion particularly well, it is still pretty
amazing to have a robot that can walk on two legs, for less than $1,000. In fact, considering that the robot has no vision or a
sense of balance, getting it to walk at all is great.
The only conclusion we can draw at this time is that in order to get robot motions to mimic human walking motions more closely,
the manufacturers of humanoid robots need to provide a continuous walk cycle as a standard preprogrammed motion.
Furthermore, the only way to more closely mimic human turning motions would be to add servos in the hips or waist. We can
only hope that other robots we might test will perform better.
The intent of the Human Emulation project is to determine how closely each robot mimics human behavior with a base model
robot, using only preprogrammed motions. While the Robonova-1 did not mimic human motion particularly well, it is still pretty
amazing to have a robot that can walk on two legs, for less than $1,000. In fact, considering that the robot has no vision or a
sense of balance, getting it to walk at all is great.
The only conclusion we can draw at this time is that in order to get robot motions to mimic human walking motions more closely,
the manufacturers of humanoid robots need to provide a continuous walk cycle as a standard preprogrammed motion.
Furthermore, the only way to more closely mimic human turning motions would be to add servos in the hips or waist. We can
only hope that other robots we might test will perform better.
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