
Overview
Festo spent two years recreating the kangaroo's elastic hop. An elastic tendon is pretensioned pneumatically, released for take-off and recharged by the landing, so successive jumps reuse stored energy. The tail servo counters the leg swing to keep the body level in flight. Like most Festo bionic projects it was built to showcase pneumatics and control rather than for sale, and it toured trade fairs from 2014.
- Type
- Jumping robot · Jumping & hopping robots
- Maker
- Festo Bionic Learning Network (Germany)
- Released
- 2014
- Price
- Not for sale
- Status
- Not for sale (research)
- Best for
- Professionals & labs
- Programming
- No programmability
Price and shipping
Technology demonstrator from Festo's Bionic Learning Network. Shown at Hannover Messe 2014.
Shipping: N/A. Not available. A Festo research and trade-fair demonstrator.
Specifications
| Category | Jumpers & hoppers · Jumping & hopping robots |
|---|---|
| Released | 2014 |
| Country | Germany |
| Availability | Not for sale (research) |
| Jumping Robots | Ranked #9 by jump height |
| Programmability | No programmability |
| Built-in autonomy | None / scripted · Moves only when controlled, or plays preset motions |
| LLM support | None · No built-in LLM and no SDK to connect one. |
| Best for | Professionals & labs |
| Vision sensors | No vision sensors |
| Actuators | Mixed |
| Audio | No audio |
| Compute type | Proprietary / undisclosed |
| Remote control | Not programmable |
| Size | 100 cm upright (60 cm sitting), 7 kg |
| Locomotion | Two hind legs driven by Festo DSNUP-20 pneumatic cylinders with a rubber 'Achilles tendon' that stores landing energy, electric servos (3 Harmonic Drive motors) for hips and balancing tail |
| Compute | Festo CECC compact controller (Ethernet, CAN, RS232/485, IO-Link) |
| Camera | None |
| Sensors | Xsens AHRS, Festo SPTE pressure transmitter, Hall rotary potentiometer |
| Runtime | Not published, on-board compressor or high-pressure air tank plus LiPo batteries |
| Speed | Jumps up to 40 cm high and 80 cm long |
| SDK | None, controlled by gestures through a Thalmic Labs Myo EMG armband over Bluetooth (50 m range) |
Common questions
How much does BionicKangaroo cost?
Not for sale. Technology demonstrator from Festo's Bionic Learning Network. Shown at Hannover Messe 2014.
Can BionicKangaroo be bought today?
No. It was never sold to the public.
Who makes BionicKangaroo?
BionicKangaroo is made by Festo Bionic Learning Network (Germany). It came out in 2014.
Can BionicKangaroo be programmed?
No programmability. None, controlled by gestures through a Thalmic Labs Myo EMG armband over Bluetooth (50 m range).
Does BionicKangaroo have AI chat or LLM support?
None. No built-in LLM and no SDK to connect one.
Ratings & reviews
Ratings and reviews load on the live site.
Related guides
- Jumping Robots · the top 10 ranked by jump height
Similar robots
Parrot Jumping Sumo (and Jumping Race / Night)Parrot (France)Was $159.99 (2014)
SALTO / SALTO-1PUC Berkeley Biomimetic Millisystems Lab (USA)Not for sale
Sand FleaBoston Dynamics (USA)Not for sale
UCSB 30-Meter JumperUC Santa Barbara Hawkes Lab with Disney Research and Caltech (USA)Not for sale
SpaceHopperETH Zurich Robotic Systems Lab student focus project (Switzerland)Not for sale
Disney Research One-Legged Hopper (LEAP)Disney Research (USA)Not for saleSources
Image credits
- Image 1: source (Festo press image)