An open source humanoid
Humanoid robotics have always been known for their complexity and capacity for almost human movement, but traditionally having a robot of this type meant investing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Now scientists from the University of California have launched an accessible humanoid robot project that anyone with basic knowledge can 3D print and assemble.
The Berkley Humanoid Light, with a cost of less than $5,000, is ready to assist in robotics research and democratize access to technology. The big difference of the Berkeley Humanoid Light is its 3D printed structure using layers of cycloidal gears. These gears are recognized for their high torque density, compact size and impact resistance, fundamental characteristics for humanoid robots that require robustness and precise movements.
Free Robot Features
At approximately 80 cm tall and weighing only 16 kg it uses 22 3D printed cycloidal actuators combined with simple parts found in online stores, despite the affordable price and simple construction the Berkley Humanoid leaves nothing to be desired in performance, it can walk, jump and execute interesting movements thanks to reinforcement learning that allows motor skills to be trained in virtual environments and applied directly to physical robots, a process known as zero-shot policy transfer.
The learning capacity facilitates the development of new controls and movements, making it ideal for educational and research environments, allowing teachers, students and hobbyists to experiment and innovate in the area.
The main motivation for creating the Berkley came from the limitations faced by the scientific community and enthusiasts due to the high cost and lack of transparency of existing commercial robots. Unlike those expensive and closed models, the UC Berkley robot is completely open source, offering free access to CAD files, codes and training materials available in the guihub whose link I left there in the references.
Being completely open source and with parts easily available globally, Berkeley Humanoid Light can be reproduced anywhere in the world, making it a truly global platform designed to stimulate the growth of humanoid robotics and democratize access to advanced technology.
