---
title: "Engineers Just Created the First Untethered, One-Legged Robot"
description: "The robot is capable of hopping 19 times in just 7 seconds thanks to a linear elastic actuator in parallel. The success of the hopping bot opens up a perspective in the study of locomotion control algorithms. "
date: "2016-10-11"
modified: "2016-10-11"
authors:
  - name: "Jess Vilvestre"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jessvilvestre"
url: "https://futurism.com/engineers-just-created-the-first-untethered-one-legged-robot"
categories:
  - "Artificial Intelligence"
tags:
  - "disney"
  - "hopping robot"
  - "locomotion control"
  - "robot"
---

# Engineers Just Created the First Untethered, One-Legged Robot

![robot hopping robot locomotion control](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Category-Disney-builds-a-jolly-one-legged-hopping-robot-3.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: DisneyResearchHub/youtube.com\</em\>*

A single-legged, hopping robot that slightly resembles a pogo stick has been created by experts at Disney Research in Pittsburgh. The research team – which includes, Zachary Batts, Joohyung Kim, and Katsu Yamane – say the robot can bounce 19 times in 7 seconds before toppling over.

A linear elastic actuator in parallel (LEAP) gives thrust to the robot's hopping power. The mechanism is a system of coil actuators, springs, and motors. Contrary to [previous hopping bots](<http://www.ri.cmu.edu/publication_view.html?pub_id=2618>), LEAP is self-contained, allowing for "an untethered, energetically autonomous single-legged hopping robot," according to [the study.](<https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/disneyresearch/wp-content/uploads/20160928202647/Untethered-One-Legged-Hopping-in-3D-Using-Linear-Elastic-Actuator-in-Parallel-LEAP-Paper.pdf>)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0ZXmGRCuts

The success of the hopping bot opens up a new perspective in the study of locomotion control algorithms.

"Single-legged robots have the simplest topology in the class of legged systems...\[they\] provide an ideal benchmark for actuators used in legged locomotion," the authors write. Studies in locomotion are imperative in the design of [bipedal robots](<https://university.innopolis.ru/files/Development%20of%20static%20and%20dynamic%20balance%20based%20control%20algorithms%20for%20a....pdf>), bringing forth more humanoid creations with increased functionality. Life-like, easy-to-use prostheses for amputees could finally be underway.

The study concludes with a hint at the future's possible locomotion mechanisms:

*"It can likely be used in other robot designs as well...We plan to redesign the LEAP mechanism to be more modular and compact for use in a multi-legged robot."*

## Author
Chemical Engineering student from Manila and food enthusiast

### Author social links  
[Facebook](<https://www.facebook.com/jessvilvestre>)