An embodied-simplexity approach to design humanoid robots bioinspired by taekwondo athletes

We are investigating new approaches to design and develop embodied humanoid robots with predictive behaviour in the real world. Our approaches are strongly based on the symbiotic interaction between the concepts of the embodied intelligence and simplexity that enables us to reproduce the artificial body in symbiosis with its intelligence. The research is based on the study of martial arts athletes and their planned movements. In particular, the taekwondo martial art competition where anticipation and adaptive behaviours are key points is used as a vehicle to address conceptual and design issues. The expected outcome will be the development of a robot that will have the capability to anticipate an opponent's actions by coordinating eyes, head and legs, with a stable body constituted by an embodied platform bioinspired by the taekwondo athletes. © 2014 Springer-Verlag