The increase in the use of robots is often seen as a threat to human jobs. Ford's delivery robot can help improve efficiency, but there will be concerns about laying off delivery drivers. However, there are many cases of robots performing tasks that a human simply could not do, like shooting at a plane, for example. And that's exactly what the quadruped HyQReal robot can do. This Italian-built robot is strong enough to pull a three-ton plane down a runway. The impressive feat can be seen in this video: This extremely powerful robot dog is the work of the Dynamic Legged Systems Lab (DLS) of the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), and succeeds the smaller HyQ of a few years ago. It was created in collaboration with Moog, but it's not the company known for its synths and remedies. Having the ability to tow a 180kg Piaggio P3,300 Avanti airliner is the impressive calling card of the DLS torque-controlled hydraulic torque robot, and it's far from the scary-looking four-legged SpotMini from Boston Dynamics. While the Boston Dynamics robot is flexible and slim, the HyQReal is solid and robust, its frame brimming with strength.
A practical puppy
Although the robot force has been singled out for its shooting capabilities, it is actually intended for other tasks: assisting men in emergency situations and contributing to disaster response, Agriculture, decommissioning, and inspection. Its titanium body is 3D printed and has a reinforced roll cage. Water and dust resistance means it's resistant to many terrains and environments. With a weight of 130 kg, a height of 90 cm and a length of 1,3 m, HyQReal is considerable. Part of the weight comes from its battery that measures 15 kg and provides up to two hours of power. There are two hydraulic pumps, one for the front legs and one for the hind legs, and this is where Moog's integrated smart actuators are used. There are a total of 12 hydraulic seals, and the robot, which is equipped with LIDAR, RGB-D, and stereo cameras, helps it perceive and make sense of its surroundings. Just as we've seen Boston Dynamics robots recover from their movements, the creators of HyQReal say that this quadruped should be able to recover in the event of a fall. The rubber feet give the robot a good grip, as the traction plan shows, and one of its main strengths lies in the fact that it can be controlled wirelessly. For now, we see operators controlling the HyQReal relatively closely, but nothing prevents this range from being increased significantly to allow operations in areas where it would be dangerous or impossible for humans. - The Fukushima disaster site is cited as an example. HyQReal is currently a work in progress and much remains to be done. Future projects include the addition of an electronic arm that could be used to carry or grab objects and make the robot more useful.