First robot dog completes marathon on a single charge

Laibo 2, a robot dog developed in South Korea, has become the first robot to complete a marathon on a single charge after running 42,195km.

Developed by Professor Hwangbo Je-min and his team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Laibo 2 is an advanced quadruped robot designed with a focus on endurance.

Recently, Laibo 2 became the first robot to complete the 22nd Sangju Dried Persimmon Marathon held in Sangju, South Korea with a remarkable time of 4 hours 19 minutes 52 seconds, on a single charge.

Robot dog Laibo 2. (Photo: OC).

The 42kg robot had to overcome difficult terrain, including two relatively steep hills, estimate the distance to other athletes, maintain speed, and reduce power consumption to ensure it could reach the finish line.

Last September, Laibo 2 failed to complete a marathon for the first time. During the Geumsan Ginseng Festival Marathon, the robot ran out of battery after 37 kilometers, about 10 kilometers faster than the pace its designers had set.

After this failed test, the team found that the robot could not maintain a steady speed throughout the race with other athletes. Furthermore, the constant braking and acceleration drained the battery. The robot developers redesigned and came up with an improved robotic system.

This year's version of the four-legged robot Laibo 2 not only has a significantly larger battery capacity, but also an artificial intelligence-powered system that allows it to store energy generated by the momentum of going downhill.

The AI ​​component is very important, because the dog robot cannot store kinetic energy in the battery without AI control, according to Hwangbo Je-min.

Two cameras mounted on the front of the robot's body and tail can detect surrounding terrain features, while sensors mounted on its joints detect movement to minimize power consumption. These new systems allow Laibo 2 to effectively navigate all types of terrain and avoid collisions with other runners during this month's race.

Laibo 2 completed its first marathon (42.195km) in just under 4 hours and 20 minutes on a single charge. The robot's creators claim that the improvements they made can help Laibo 2 run up to 67km in a straight line. The improved robot's 8-hour battery life is said to surpass Spot, the popular four-legged robot from Boston Dynamics.

In the future, Professor Hwangbo and his team will work to improve Laibo 2's mobility in mountainous terrain and natural disaster environments.