Robot Dog Obstacle Course
Adam Jacoff of the National Institute of Standards and Technology discusses reproducible tests for disaster-response robots alongside Tom Haus, a retired Los Angeles Fire Department member, and their work with international robotics competitions.
In this talk
- 0:10
Competitions advance response robots
Jacoff says he and Haus work through international robotics competitions to develop testing standards for disaster-response robots. The competitions give teams a place to refine their systems toward products responders could buy, while simulating difficult terrain where mobility and speed matter.
- 1:04
Tests measure robot mobility
The competitions have run for more than 20 years, beginning around 1999. Jacoff says legged robots need built-in intelligence to walk because operators cannot remotely control every joint. Repeated trials help teams see which gaits work, and the test methods can be reproduced in different locations.
- 1:40
Adjustable obstacles create repeatable challenges
Jacoff describes tests shipped from Korea to Japan for the Japan Atomic Energy Agency to use with legged robots, operator training, and possible credentialing before Fukushima deployment. Test obstacles can be raised in difficulty, including ramps tilted to 15 degrees and adjustable rails that mimic tripping hazards. Foam beneath the robots’ feet can simulate mud or sand and disrupt automatic adjustments.
- 3:50
Competitions reveal progress and gaps
Jacoff says competitions bring people together to measure the state of the technology and its capabilities. He describes future tests involving partial image recognition, autonomy, environmental interaction, and dexterity.
Briefs summarise talks and interviews; timestamps open the video at that moment. Claims in a talk are the speaker's own.