The lecture biologically inspired robots deals intensively with robots whose mechanical design, sensor concepts or control architecture were inspired by nature. In detail, we will look at solutions from nature (e.g. lightweight construction concepts using honeycomb structures, human muscles) and then at robot technologies that utilize these principles to solve similar tasks (lightweight 3D printed parts or artificial muscles in robotics).

After discussing these biologically inspired technologies, concrete robotic systems and applications from current research that successfully utilize these technologies will be presented. In particular, multi-legged walking robots, snake-like and humanoid robots are presented and their sensor and drive concepts are discussed.

The lecture focuses on the concepts of control and system architectures (e.g. behavior-based systems) of these robotic systems, with locomotion being the main focus. The lecture ends with an outlook on future developments and the development of commercial applications for these robots.

Learning Objectives

Students acquire knowledge of biologically inspired concepts in robotics and are able to systematically analyse, evaluate, and transfer them to technical, robotic solutions.

Specifically, the following skills are taught:

• Natural lightweight construction and material concepts and their significance for the energy efficiency of mobile robot systems
• Muscle types from biology, associated muscle models, and transfer to artificial muscles for robots
• Human senses, stimulus processing, information coding, and the equivalent technical sensor systems, especially for mobile walking robots
• Central pattern generators (CPG), neuro-oscillators, and their relevance for robotic multi-legged walking
• Types of locomotion, stability criteria, walking patterns, and the representation in gait diagrams
• Machine learning methods and their application in a robotic context
• Subsumption architecture, reactive and behaviour-based system architectures
• Mendelian laws, meiosis and mitosis, and genetic algorithms in robotics
• Challenges of humanoid robot systems and current approaches to solutions
• Applications of walking robots and other biologically motivated robots

Siehe weitere Details zu der Organisation der Veranstaltung: https://lehre.imi.kit.edu sowie in ILIAS.