This DIY Bipedal Robot Used Pneumatic “Air-Muscles” Instead of Motors
- Published
- Source
- Spectrum.ieee.orgAutomaton
In 1987, British photographer Richard Greenhill, driven by a passion for robotics, initiated a weekly gathering in his attic to develop a life-size humanoid robot, the Shadow Walker, capable of performing practical tasks like carrying luggage. Unable to secure support from his startup, Intergalactic Robots, Greenhill enlisted the help of a group of DIY enthusiasts, known as the Shadow Group, who met every Wednesday to work on the project, fueled by homemade spaghetti dinners.
With contributions from robotics expert David Buckley, the team designed the robot using a simplified skeletal structure and pneumatic "air-muscles" for movement, aiming to achieve balance and mobility. Despite their efforts, the Shadow Walker struggled to walk, ultimately failing to compete effectively at the 1st International Robot Olympics held in Glasgow in September 1990, where it was outperformed by other entries.
The Olympics showcased over 50 robots from various countries, highlighting both the advancements and limitations in robotics at the time. While the Shadow Walker did not succeed in its primary goal, it laid the groundwork for future developments in robotics. In 1997, the Shadow Group transitioned into a registered company, Shadow Robot, which now focuses on creating advanced robotic hands, reflecting a shift from walking robots to specialized dexterity in robotic technology. Despite significant progress in robotics, the journey toward creating truly functional humanoid robots continues.
Original report
This DIY Bipedal Robot Used Pneumatic “Air-Muscles” Instead of Motors
Spectrum.ieee.orgAutomaton · Allison MarshThis briefing is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting and is provided for industry information and news discovery. The original report and source publication are credited and linked where applicable. RobotToday does not claim ownership of third-party source material.
Rights concerns? Contact [email protected] with the relevant URL and details. We will review the matter and take appropriate action where warranted.
More related news
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
-
8
ROBOTTODAY Weekly October 19 – 23, 2026 RobotToday · 2 days ago
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
Related Suppliers
Chengdu Humanoid Robot Innovation Center Co., Ltd. 成都人形机器人创新中心有限公司
China
Chengdu-registered humanoid robot R&D company behind the Gongga-1 humanoid, the open-source RW-02OP wheeled-biped platform and Raydiculous-1 planning software
High Performance Humanoid Technologies Lab (H2T), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Germany
KIT research chair in Karlsruhe led by Prof. Tamim Asfour, developer of the ARMAR humanoid robot family from ARMAR-I (2000) to the household robot ARMAR-7.
Hubei Humanoid Robot Innovation Center 湖北人形机器人创新中心
China
Wuhan public platform opened in June 2025 to train humanoid robots and collect embodied-AI data in 23 simulated scenes; led by a Hubei state tech investor.
Yuanqi Innovation (Xiamen) Robot Co., Ltd. 元启创新（厦门）机器人有限公司
China
Xiamen-based AgiBot VAP partner founded 2025; resells and customises AgiBot humanoids, Genie wheeled robots and D1 quadrupeds with turnkey service.
OM Robot Technology Co. Ltd. 东莞全向机械科技有限公司
China
Chinese manufacturer of mecanum wheels, omnidirectional wheel bases, and mobile robotic platforms for AGV applications.
Techman Robot Inc. (TM Robot) 達明機器人股份有限公司
Taiwan
Techman Robot is a Taiwanese cobot maker producing AI-powered collaborative robots with integrated built-in vision for manufacturing automation.
BioRobotics Laboratory, Korea University of Technology and Education
Korea, Republic of (South)
South Korean university research laboratory focusing on haptics, exoskeletons, rehabilitation robotics, and autonomous ground vehicles.
McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute
Canada
Hamilton, Ontario applied manufacturing research center at McMaster University; runs a 21,000 sq ft facility with seven research labs.
Robotics Education & Competition Foundation
United States
The REC Foundation is a US nonprofit that runs VEX-based robotics and drone competitions reaching 1.1 million students across 70 countries.
Robotics needs a service framework.
RSF defines a common language for robot service capability, lifecycle operations, certification pathways, and service-provider networks.
Join the RobotToday community on LinkedIn
Daily robotics news, in-depth analysis, conference highlights, and discussions with professionals worldwide.
