RAI’s amazing Roadrunner robot leaves humanoids behind

When the Robotics and AI (RAI) Institute talks technology, it’s wise to take notice. The company was, after all, founded by Marc Raibert, who also launched robotics pioneer Boston Dynamics, the firm behind the astonishing Atlas robot and the dog-like Spot quadruped.

Massachusetts-based RAI Institute has just unveiled Roadrunner, a 15 kg (33 lb) bipedal-wheeled robot prototype. The intriguing design features remarkable versatility, thanks in part to its symmetrical, knee-jointed legs that allow it to move efficiently and avoid obstacles with ease.

A short video (below) released by the Roadrunner team shows the robot effortlessly launching from a resting position before wheeling around on flat ground. You really start to take notice, however, when it smoothly tackles a set of steps, its wheels acting as feet to climb to the top. Roadrunner then rides down a ramp before tackling the obstacle in reverse, only this time descending the steps like a stunt cyclist.

“A single control policy was trained to handle both side-by-side and in-line driving,” RAI Institute says in its post. “Several behaviors, including standing up from various ground configurations and balancing on one wheel, were successfully deployed zero-shot on the hardware,” meaning that Roadrunner was able to perform the actions without needing extra training or adjustments after the system was developed.

RAI Institute plans to use the Roadrunner wheel robot as a research platform to push the limits of agile, dynamic mobility. Looking ahead, you can imagine a more advanced version of the robot being deployed in real-world settings for inspections or warehouse tasks, and in some situations become a viable alternative to leg-equipped humanoid robots.

The RAI Institute was founded by Marc Raibert in 2022, to advance the integration of robotics and artificial intelligence. Building on expertise linked to industry pioneers, it’s quickly become known for developing highly dynamic, agile robots that can perform an array of complex movements … just like Roadrunner.