Hector, A Large Robot Based on a Stick Insect That Can Move Its Six Legs Independently

Hector is a large six-legged robot built by Axel Schneider and his team from Bielefeld University in Germany that is capable of moving each of its six legs independently of one another. The robot, which was inspired by stick insects, can traverse uneven terrain and climb over obstacles using built-in sensors.

At the moment, Hector is fitted with short-range cameras and sensors that provide information about its body position and immediate surroundings. But the team is working on adding longer-range sensors to better mimic the abilities of’ real insects. The improved prototype should be a useful tool for biologists studying animal locomotion.