Recently, the first episode "Robotic Canine Coming" of the CMG World Robot Skills Competition produced by China Media Group (CMG) aired on CCTV-10, the Science and Education Channel. During the program, the Natural Behavior Learning Robot Dog", jointly developed by faculty and students from the School of Robotics and Automation and the School of Management and Engineering, Nanjing University, made a remarkable appearance.
This robot dog employs a self-developed integrated control framework that combines machine learning methods such as reinforcement learning and imitation learning, accurately replicating the movement patterns of real dogs. It overcomes the technical limitations of traditional robots in terms of flexibility and natural movement.
"Xiao Lan", the robot dog, can complete barrier-crossing tasks without human intervention and demonstrates near-natural leaps resembling a real dog even in high-difficulty maneuvers like high-speed hurdling. Behind this series of actions lies not only a breakthrough in control algorithms, but also a reflection of a comprehensive educational system for nurturing future robotics engineers.
During the program, Professor Chen Chunlin and Mr. Tang Kaiqiang from the School of Robotics and Automation, along with doctoral student Fu Huiqiao from the School of Management and Engineering, elaborated on the technical design and implementation details of the "Natural Behavior Learning Robotic Dog", covering aspects from system architecture and algorithmic principles to practical applications.
Notably, the entire participating and technical support team consisted of students. They were responsible for the project's entire lifecycle, encompassing algorithm design, simulation-based training, hardware debugging, competition strategy, and on-site emergency support.
This team structure exemplifies how hands-on research directly enhances teaching and project-based learning. Acting as "task owners" from the outset, the students took charge of their own modules, made key technical decisions during debugging, and ensured the system reliability under the pressure of competition.
From laboratories to the national stage, the path to the future continues to be forged by successive generations of students at Nanjing University.
Writer: Feng Yufei
Editor: Shen Zhuofan
