The Nagoya Institute of Technology in Japan has developed a passive walking robot capable of traveling continuously under its own inertia–without exterior power. All that’s required is slight downward slope and a gentle push to get started. Wait, isn’t that the exact same idea as a slinky? The machine’s thighs, calves and feet are all proportional in weight and length, allowing it a human-like gait without the assistance of any power source other than the downward slope’s potential energy. In fact, the design is very similar to the mechanical process that humans use for locomotion.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=105251