Robot rock: Humanoid bot runs, jumps

Kyoto – An adorable humanoid robot is set to walk, run and jump into consumers’ hearts. Ropid, the latest bot by industry pioneer Tomotaka Takahashi at Robo-Garage, can respond to human commands and comes close to mimicking human movements. A major step forward in automated robotics, Ropid can, thanks to the inclusion of four gyro-sensors and an improved leg design, jump some 7 to 8cm in the air and retain its balance upon landing. The bot is one mechanical step forward towards a future in which robotic toys will mimic human movements perfectly.