World’s first robot dog learns animal gaits in 9 hours with AI power

Researchers at the University of Leeds have developed the world’s first robot dog capable of autonomously adapting its gait to mimic real animal movements across unfamiliar terrains. Using an AI system inspired by animals such as dogs, cats, and horses, the robot—nicknamed “Clarence”—learned to switch between walking styles like trotting, running, and bounding within just nine hours. This bio-inspired deep reinforcement learning framework enables the robot to adjust its stride for energy efficiency, balance, and coordination without human intervention or additional tuning, even in environments it has never encountered before. This breakthrough represents a significant advancement in legged robotics, with practical applications in hazardous environments like nuclear decommissioning and search and rescue, where human presence is risky. By training the robot entirely in simulation and then transferring the learned policies directly to the physical machine, the researchers achieved a high level of adaptability and resilience. The project also underscores the potential of biomimicry in robotics, offering insights into how biological intelligence principles can improve robotic