The adventure of Salto began in December 2016. A group of researchers from the University of California in Berkeley created a robot capable of delivering impressive jumps despite its size, and repeating them in a fraction of a second. That first version was limited to a single axis, however, the Salto-1P can adjust its direction in the air, jump higher, and farther. For now it is small and must be controlled remotely, but the question is: What will happen when it leaves those two things behind?
A Robotics World in Transition
The world of robotics took a strange turn after Alphabet confirmed the sale of Boston Dynamics to SoftBank Group, a Japanese corporation mainly dedicated to telecommunications. We are not yet sure how that new relationship will develop, but it is most likely that the company’s fabulous robots have found a better home on Japanese soil. Of course, that doesn’t mean robotic development is in crisis on this side of the world. Quite the opposite: there are many universities and labs out there continuing to work on their prototypes, and that’s how we arrive once again at the University of California in Berkeley, which just revealed an “upgrade” for its Salto robot, now known as Salto-1P.
Salto-1P’s Upgraded Moves
The original version of Salto-1P could only jump along one axis (back-and-forth), and any destabilizing factor made it fall on its side. The new design keeps its “tail” that helps with balance, but also incorporates two small motors that allow it to jump sideways and slightly change its direction in the air. At the same time, an additional optimization of its “squatting position” increased the maximum jump height, all with a robotic leg of just 14.4 centimeters and a total weight of 98 grams. The fact that it can avoid obstacles and that its motors make a sound similar to small giggles when it moves doesn’t leave us very at ease…
Two Limitations to Overcome
However, the Salto-1P has a couple of limitations. The first is that it doesn’t work autonomously, so it must be controlled with a computer. And the second is that the additional force of its jump broke the leg mechanism on several occasions, something we can observe in the second video. Its development will continue with greater priority on obstacles and difficult terrain.
Source: Technology Review
