Introduction to Quadruped Robots
From fire-breathers to sprinters, climbers, and gymnasts, we’ve seen more than our fair share of impressive quadruped robots. Now, the fourth-generation Honey Badger has added underwater walkies to the list of robodog capabilities. This innovative robot is developed by Poland’s MAB Robotics, a startup that was set up in 2019 by a group of students who emerged from a research group and built their first robodog.
The Evolution of Honey Badger
The Honey Badger quadruped has now gone through four iterations, and the latest has developed a taste for water. As can be seen in the video, Honey Badger 4.0 – which was introduced earlier this year – can be seen padding along while immersed under the water at a swimming pool to demonstrate its versatility in extreme environments. This capability makes it an ideal candidate for various applications, including inspection duties at industrial sites and exploration of underwater environments.
Underwater Capabilities
Underwater Walking of the Honey Badger Legged Robot is a remarkable feature that sets it apart from other quadruped robots. While dedicated underwater drones and bots would probably navigate the shallows with more finesse, the Honey Badger has the advantage of subsequently emerging from the breakers and making its way up the beach to continue its mission on land. According to Jakub Bartoszek, the process of designing Honey Badger 4.0 to meet the requirements for operation in water was very challenging, but the team overcame the obstacles through a build, test, learn, and improve approach.
Technical Specifications
The latest Honey Badger is 60 cm (23.6 in) in length, stands up to 50 cm (19.6 in) high, and weighs in at 12 kg (26.4 lb). In addition to ambling under shallow water, it’s reckoned good for grass, concrete, and gravel too. The robot employs RGB and thermal cameras plus LiDAR to get around at up to 1 m/s (2.24 mph) and is equipped with a gas sensor. It has a 6-Ah Li-ion battery for up to 2 hours of cable-free operation, runs on the ROS2 platform, is capable of hauling a payload of up to 2 kg, and can be controlled remotely through 5G or a fiber-optic cable.
Real-World Applications
Honey Badger quadrupeds have already been deployed in the heating distribution tunnels and water/sewage canals of Poznań city in Poland. The company is cooperating with companies that manage infrastructure, part of which is constantly submerged. The robot’s ability to traverse both land and underwater environments makes it an ideal tool for inspection duties in such areas. The company has also started a cooperation with universities that use the robot in research related to locomotion in water, which helps with testing and contributes to the development of the solution.
Conclusion
The Honey Badger 4.0 is a remarkable quadruped robot that has demonstrated its ability to walk underwater, making it a valuable tool for various applications. With its advanced technical specifications and real-world applications, it has the potential to revolutionize the field of robotics. As the company continues to improve and develop the robot, we can expect to see even more innovative applications of this technology in the future.
