Check it Out: Brave Robodog Takes a Stroll Underwater

From fire-breathers to sprinters, climbers, and gymnasts, we’ve witnessed an impressive array of quadruped robots. Now, the fourth-generation Honey Badger has expanded the list of robodog abilities to include underwater walking.

Founded in 2019, Poland’s MAB Robotics originated from a student research group that created their first robodog. The startup’s Honey Badger quadruped has seen four versions so far, with the latest one gaining an affinity for water.

Honey Badger 4.0 Demonstrates Underwater Agility in Latest Showcase Video

In the video below, you can see Honey Badger 4.0, which was launched earlier this year, moving gracefully underwater in a swimming pool to showcase its adaptability in challenging environments.

While specialized underwater drones and bots might navigate shallow waters with more agility, the Honey Badger has the benefit of being able to emerge from the surf and continue its mission on land.

Insights from Jakub Bartoszek on Developing Honey Badger 4.0

Jakub Bartoszek from the company shared, “Designing Honey Badger 4.0 to operate in water was quite challenging, but we tackled the difficulties with our method: build, test/break, learn, and improve. The most difficult aspect was sealing the robot’s actuators, which needed to be both lightweight and sturdy. We created several prototypes, tested them to find their limits, and gradually expanded those limits with each version. We now know how to build a robot that can function underwater, though we still have ideas for further enhancing its reliability.”

Additionally, the latest Honey Badger measures 60 cm (23.6 in) in length, stands up to 50 cm (19.6 in) high, and weighs 12 kg (26.4 lb). Besides moving under shallow water, it is also suited for use on grass, concrete, and gravel.

The robot utilizes RGB and thermal cameras along with LiDAR for navigation at speeds of up to 1 m/s (2.24 mph) and is equipped with a gas sensor. It features a 6-Ah Li-ion battery that provides up to 2 hours of wireless operation and operates on the ROS2 platform. It can carry a payload of up to 2 kg and be controlled remotely via 5G or a fiber-optic cable.

Jakub Bartoszek Discusses Honey Badger 4.0’s Design and Future Goals

Bartoszek confirmed, “The robot draws power from a built-in battery, with all movement computations handled by onboard computers. The cable is solely for communication with the operator, as standard Wi-Fi is ineffective underwater. We are working on enabling autonomous operation for inspecting industrial infrastructure, but that is still in development.”

Earlier versions with a jointed spine have been sent to universities for research, while others have performed inspection tasks at industrial sites in Poland and have navigated heating distribution tunnels and sewage systems in Poznań.

Bartoszek mentioned, “We’re collaborating with companies that manage infrastructure, including areas that are often submerged. One partner handles water and sewage management, where some network sections are best accessed by a system that can operate on both land and underwater. The bottoms of these areas are frequently rocky and littered with debris, complicating movement. Our tests with partners have shown that a quadrupedal robot is highly effective, and we’re focused on commercializing this solution. Additionally, we’ve partnered with universities using the robot for research on locomotion in water, which aids in our testing and development.”

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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