Integrating Reconfigurable Foot Design, Multi-modal Contact Sensing, and Terrain Classification for Bipedal Locomotion

The ability of bipedal robots to adapt to diverse and unstructured terrain conditions is crucial for their deployment in real-world environments. To this end, we present a novel, bio-inspired robot foot design with stabilizing tarsal segments and a multifarious sensor suite involving acoustic, capacitive, tactile, temperature, and acceleration sensors. A real-time signal processing and terrain classification system is developed and evaluated. The sensed terrain information is used to control actuated segments of the foot, leading to improved ground contact and stability. The proposed framework highlights the potential of the sensor-integrated adaptive foot for intelligent and adaptive locomotion.