From dinosaurs to robotic beasts, such as Boston Dynamics’ Atlas and Spot, we’ve witnessed a disproportionate number of remarkable quadruped robots. The fourth-generation Honey Badger has expanded its repertoire by incorporating underwater exploration into its already impressive list of robotic dog abilities.
In 2019, Polish robotics startup MAB Robotics was founded by its visionary founders who had previously collaborated on a student research project, successfully developing their inaugural robodog prototype. Since the startup’s Honey Badger quadruped has undergone four iterations, it has recently evolved to develop a novel ability for navigating water.
As seen in the accompanying video, Honey Badger 4.0, showcased earlier this year, can be observed effortlessly gliding through the water at a swimming pool, demonstrating its exceptional adaptability in demanding environments.
What wonders lie beneath the waves? The Underwater Strolling of the Honey Badger Legged Robotic, a pioneering feat by MAB Robotics.
As dedicated underwater drones and bots expertly maneuver through the shallow waters, the Honey Badger’s unique advantage becomes apparent: it can rise from the breakers, regroup, and continue its mission with unrelenting determination.
The company’s Jakub Bartoszek notes that developing locomotion techniques capable of overcoming the obstacles of underwater terrain is a fascinating endeavour; however, details on how this was achieved, particularly with regards to dust- and waterproofing meeting IP54/IP67 specifications outlined in the original specs, remain absent.
The most recent Honey Badger measures 60 cm in length, standing approximately 10 cm taller than its typical size of 50 cm, and weighing a substantial 12 kg. While strolling beneath a shallow layer of water, it’s widely regarded as beneficial for a variety of surfaces, including lush lawns, concrete, and gravel.
MAB Robotics
Equipped with RGB and thermal cameras, along with LiDAR technology, this device enables navigation at speeds of up to 1 m/s (approximately 2.24 miles per hour), and features a gas sensor for added functionality. The robot features a 6Ah Li-ion battery providing up to 2 hours of cordless operation, capable of hauling payloads of up to 2kg, and controlled remotely through high-speed 5G or fiber-optic connectivity.
Robotic predecessors with articulated backbones have been dispatched to academic institutions for analytical purposes, while others have carried out surveillance tasks at industrial facilities in Poland, including venturing into heating infrastructure pipes and water/sewage conduits within Poznań’s city limits. Improvement continues.
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