Energy-Efficient Design of an Ostrich-Inspired Bipedal Running Robot for Inspection Tasks

Overview

During manual inspections of enclosed or hazardous spaces, hundreds of accidents occur every year; however, traditional legged robots, which rely on actively controlled joints and high-bandwidth feedback, are often energy-intensive and cause increased environmental disturbance due to stiff contact dynamics. Inspired by the elastic energy storage in ostrich tendons, I developed an ostrich-inspired bipedal running robot (OBR-III) to address high actuation and energy demands in existing inspection robots. Using dual four-bar linkages and a tension spring energy storage system, OBR-III requires only a single actuator per leg, eliminating the need for sensor-based feedback for joint coordination. Through its tension spring system, OBR-III minimizes environmental disturbance and maximizes battery life during operation, making it well-suited for inspection tasks in confined spaces or ecologically sensitive areas. In the future, the applications of OBR-III will extend beyond improving inspection efficiency to include reducing carbon footprint and battery waste, thereby promoting more sustainable robotics.

Awards (2)

• Bronze Medal
• Selected for CWSF 2026

Competition history

• CWSF 2026 Energy

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