At Engineered Arts, our robots are not utility machines or household servants. They were conceived as a communication tool - a way for a machine to deliver a human message, with gesture, expression, and voice. Now, we are creating a new full-sized dynamic humanoid, able to walk, run, jump and hop. We present a design preview of Byrun. The ability to move like a human adds to our ability to communicate with humans. With his vastly increased degrees of freedom, numerous touch sensors, and high range of movement, Byrun will be our most interactive and relatable robot Parallel electro-pneumatic actuation Parallel actuators ensure compliance and allow the robot to move with both speed and precision Expressive head Projective technology gives an infinite array of possible facial Bi-articulated limbs Inspired by a biomimetic mechanical linkage system, both upper and lower limbs are bi-articulated. Tactile pneumatic hands Fingers are pneumatically driven, with pressure, temperature and surface detecting sensors. Byrun has a fully articulated wrist and opposable thumb. Custom-built BLDC motors Bespoke motor technology gives our actuators an extremely high power-to-weight Precision encoders Precise position control is enabled by sensitive and accurate encoders in each rotary Energy storage via muscles By using pneumatic muscles as variable springs, we ensure the robot is as energy efficient as possible, with a wide range of possible gaits. Ground contact sensing Multiple pressure sensors embedded in the feet provide ground contact and force information. Byrun concept sketch Series-elastic actuators Series-elastic actuators in the legs simplify precision force control. biflrticulfltE. compliflnt.dynflmic

Concept Byrun is conceived as a dynamic humanoid robot for human interaction and communication, and a development platform for research and experimentation. n. Able to walk, run, hop and jump, with facial expression, voice and gestures, Byrun is un a machine able to imitate many forms of human communication and expression. n. Design Principles Byrun has a biomimetically driven design rationale. Namely, to emulate human movement and dynamics. Unashamedly a robot - it has no rubber face mask or r fabric clothes. Neither is it a faceless white appliance, it’s a machine built to imitate life (without...

motion Walking is not merely a means of locomotion. It can also act as a multivariate ariate signalling device, particularly between humans. From nothing but their walk, signallin we w can make judgements about a person’s age, gender, weight, health and mood. Walking robots have been commercially available for some time, however none with true human-like biomechanics and bipedal abilities. A cautious, shuffling robot may get to where it needs to go (eventually, and if there are no obstacles in the way). But it will not inspire confidence in onlookers. It will not inhabit a human man space naturally...

Actuators Pneumatic muscles have the benefit of high power-to-weight ratio, inherent eight compliance and the ability to act as an energy storage device, however they are vice, inefficient in high cyclical use and difficult to utilise for fine position control. e scles Engineered Arts Ltd have developed highly integrated muscles with internal valves, tilised sensors and control which are unique to Byrun. They are utilised as ‘tunable springs’, working in parallel with force controlled motors. Brushless DC (BLDC) motors can offer moderate to high power-to-weight ratio, however additional springs...