The biped robot "Johnnie" is designed to achieve a dynamically stable gait pattern, allowing for high walking velocities. Besides accurate and fast sensors, a powerful computer system is essential for the performance and stability of the machine. The control system requires hard real-time capabilities and low cycle times. With our new control concept and the new computer system, walking speeds of 2.4 km/h have been achieved in experiments.

The biped robot "Johnnie" is designed to achieve a dynamically stable gait pattern, allowing for high walking velocities. Very accurate and fast sensors were developed for the machine. In particular the design of the 3D-orientation sensor and the 6-axes force-torque sensor are presented. The control scheme is based on the information from these sensors to deal with unstructured terrain and disturbances. Two different implementations are investigated: a computed torque approach and a trajectory control with adaptive trajectories. Walking speeds of 2.0 km/h have been achieved in experiments.

Within the large variety of existing and still newly emerging biped walking machines Jogging JOHNNIE represents a fundamental study on fast walking and on especially adapted foot-dynamics. Air phases are possible with two feet lifted off the ground. Each foot possesses six degrees of freedom with respect to the body and additionally seven degrees of freedom within the local foot environment. The overall system includes 23 degrees of freedom. It is 1.80 m, large and weighs 40 kg. Up to now stable walking has been achieved.

Deals with the design and control of an anthropomorphic autonomous biped robot. The objective is to realize a dynamically stable, three-dimensional walking and jogging motion. The design, sensors and electronics of the robot are introduced. Particular emphasis has been devoted to achieving a high power-to-weight ratio. The corresponding methods for weight reduction are presented. The control scheme is discussed. It is based on the method of feedback linearization employing the equations of motion of the system.

The project of a two-legged walking robot is presented. The control system is based on a nonlinear control scheme using the method of feedback linearization. Special effort has been devoted to the trajectory generation which is computed such that the system remains controllable throughout the entire gait cycle. The controller and simulation algorithm have been implemented parametrically. Parameter studies have been performed which lead to the final design. The mechanical design with particular emphasis on actuators and sensors is presented.