Researchers from TU Delft and EPFL have developed a quadruped robot that runs like a dog without using motors. Combining advanced mechanics with data-driven technology, their work, published in Nature Machine Intelligence, offers a breakthrough in energy-efficient robotics.

Assistant professor Cosimo Della Santina from TU Delft explains that while commercial quadruped robots are growing in popularity, their energy inefficiency restricts operation time. The research aims to solve this by optimizing the robot’s mechanics to mimic the efficiency of biological systems.

Figure 1. Dog-Inspired Robot Runs Without Motors

Nature-Inspired Robotics

Della Santina illustrates this concept with a striking example from nature: a fish swimming against the current without any active effort—because it is actually dead. Its movement is entirely driven by the passive mechanics of its body, demonstrating how optimized physical structures alone can enable efficient motion. Figure 1 shows Dog-Inspired Robot Runs Without Motors.

Drawing inspiration from such natural examples, the team—including Ph.D. student Francesco Stella, master’s student Mickael Achkar, and principal investigator Josie Hughes—used canine movement data to design their robot [1]. By leveraging machine learning, they optimized the arrangement of springs, cables, and tandems in the robot’s structure. As a result, the robot can walk on a treadmill and adjust to different speeds solely through the treadmill’s push—without the need for motors.

Navigating Obstacles

While the robot primarily operates passively, the researchers integrated motors to enhance its functionality. "The motors enable the robot to tackle challenges like climbing steps or avoiding obstacles," explains Della Santina [2]. "However, their usage is minimized due to the robot's highly optimized mechanical design."

This innovation marks a major advancement in developing holistically intelligent robots. "By optimizing both mechanical and cognitive capabilities, we strive to create quadruped robots that are not only more energy-efficient but also highly adaptable to complex environments," concludes Della Santina.

References:

1. https://www.tudelft.nl/en/2025/me/news/scientists-develop-dog-inspired-robot-that-runs-without-motors
2. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-03-scientists-dog-robot-motors.html

Cite this article:

Janani R (2025), Scientists Create Dog-Inspired Robot That Moves Without Motors, AnaTechMaz, pp. 154