Proposed rules for

legged robot distance records

 

1) Any number of legs is allowed.
There could be sub-categories for bipeds, quadrapeds, hexapods if
the competition gets hot in the future.

2) Legs must reciprocate. That is, the legs must go back and
forth. It is not allowed for the legs to be on a rotary
joint (at the robot hip or knee) that goes round and round.

3) The feet must be small. This is to prevent things that
essentially role. The maximum distance (measured in
the direction of travel, not diagonally) between any
two points on the foot that touch the ground must be
equal or less than one quarter the average step distance
(the step distance of one leg is the distance between
successive foot contacts of that leg; that is the step
distance is the total distance covered divided by
the number of steps of that leg).

4) The robot must be energetically autonomous. No useful
energy can be supplied during the race from cables, tubes,
wires or pipes.

If the competition gets hot then there could be sub-categories
for robots powered by a) gravity (passive dynamics), b) electricity
c) hydrocarbons, d), and wind e) sun. But for now, they can all be in the same
category.

5) Control autonomy. All communications need to be
wireless. In the future there can be separate categories for
robots that do and do not have remote control, external
computer control vs on board control, on board vs off board
sensing, etc.

6) Between start and finish the only physical contact the
robot can make is with the
ground or incidental contacts with the surroundings. No
human, wire, stick, or machine can contact the machine
in a way that contributes positively to its locomotion or
balance.

7) Any deviations from flatness cannot
be so as to enhance steering or balance stability.
The course may not have
physical features (e.g., a trough-like shape) specifically
designed to aid the steering or balance of the robot.
Optical features to aid steering or balance are acceptable.

8) Distance is measured between any two instants in time designated
by the racers, between which all rules here are satisfied.
Distance is measured along the path of any point on the body
of the robot designated by the racers. Such a part cannot
have oscillations added for the purpose of adding recorded
distance.

 

For getting such a competition official, contact

David Hawksett, Science & Technology
Guinness World Records
338 Euston Road
London NW1 3BD
Tel: +44 (0) 207 891 4588
Fax: +44 (0) 207 891 4501
David.hawksett@guinnessworldrecords.com

Please send questions/corrections to ruina@cornell.edu.