Project: Design a Wheel-Leg Hybrid

A wheel-leg hybrid is just what it sounds like—a blending of the basic wheel/axle design with one or more legs.

The finished wheel-leg robot
Figure 2-5. The finished wheel-leg robot

What It Does

The wheel-leg makes it possible for robots to benefit from the efficiency of wheels on smooth surfaces while using its legs to keep going over rougher terrain.

Where It Came From

There are several variations on the wheel-leg design in the world of robotics. One design, the Quattroped, is a four-wheeled/legged robot developed at the Bio-Inspired Robotic Laboratory at National Taiwan University. In a move worthy of Optimus Prime, it ...

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