The University of Michigan has produced a video of a bipedal robot which can walk through grass on fire. The robot is designed by Agility Robots and is capable of walking through the flames. The robot has been developed at the robotics department of the University of Michigan. The fire was a part of a controlled burn which is lit up each year in the college premises to promote the ecology of the native species.
Professor Jessy W. Grizzle is the leader of the university research group behind the two-legged robot. The video published by the university shows a blue two-legged robot which is walking through grass on fire. Despite being in a difficult state, the robot still managed to stay upright. Although Cassie doesn’t have any hands to pick you from fire, the research might allow for fire-resistant robots to help with the fire search and rescue missions.
Agility Robotics has developed the bipedal robot for broad applications which vary from research to task assistance. The company has described their mission saying, “In the near future, robots will deliver groceries, help take care of us in our homes, and assist in disaster recovery. We are pioneering legged robot technologies to solve the mobility challenges and enable this future.” The bipedal robot was purchased by the University of Michigan from Agility Robotics with funding from NSF Inspire Grant and Toyota Research Institutes (TRI).