Robot Developed by Korean Researchers Completes Full Marathon Without Recharging

KAIST Team Develops Quadruped Robot 'RAIBO2'
Completes Sangju Marathon... Maximum Range of About 65 km

A quadruped robot developed by a Korean research team has completed a full marathon course of 42.195 kilometers without recharging or replacing its battery. It is reported that this robot can travel up to approximately 65 kilometers on a single charge.

The research team led by Professor Jemin Hwangbo from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on the 24th that they published a paper on the long-distance running technology and actual marathon completion of their quadruped robot 'RAIBO2' in the international journal 'Nature.' The team explained that this is the first time research on a robot conducted in Korea has been published in the main journal of Nature.

RAIBO2 ran the 42.195-kilometer course without charging or changing its battery at the Sangju Dried Persimmon Marathon held in North Gyeongsang Province in November 2024. Its average speed was 2.64 meters per second, and it took 4 hours, 19 minutes, and 52 seconds to complete the course. The course included slopes with an incline of up to 18.4 degrees and a total elevation change of 286 meters, as well as sections that were slippery due to fallen leaves.

The quadruped robot 'RAIBO2' running with participants in the marathon. Research team led by Professor Jemin Hwangbo

The energy used to complete the marathon was approximately 1,280 Wh. With a total battery capacity of 1,930 Wh, about 34% remained after finishing the race. Based on the actual running data, the research team analyzed that RAIBO2's maximum range is about 65 kilometers. The total cost of transport (TCOT), which represents energy efficiency, was measured at 0.248. The team explained that this figure is about 33% lower than the human benchmark of 0.37.

The key to long-distance running was not simply increasing battery capacity, but rather improving the overall energy efficiency of the robot. The research team designed the robot's mechanical structure, electrical system, motor operation, and walking control in an integrated manner. By reducing leg weight and joint friction, and applying efficient actuators and circuits, energy loss was minimized.

Artificial intelligence (AI)-based walking control technology was also applied. It reduced shocks and slipping when the foot touched the ground, and lowered the velocity of the foot just before landing, thus decreasing unnecessary energy consumption. During downhill sections, regenerative braking was applied by using the motors like generators to recapture kinetic energy as electrical energy.

Quadruped robots have potential for use in a range of fields, such as disaster rescue and search missions, and patrols in industrial facilities, since they can move on stairs, slopes, and rough terrain. However, battery capacity and running time have been cited as key limitations for real-world deployment.

The research team is also working on developing this technology for industrial robots. KAIST faculty startup Lion Robotics is reportedly pushing for mass production of robots capable of extended operation in industrial settings based on RAIBO2's long-distance travel technology.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.