With a height of 1.42 m and a weight of 38 kg, h ARTEMIS is a first-of-its-kind robot developed by mechanical engineers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and is field-ready.

Using cutting-edge technology, ARTEMIS (the name is derived from the initials of the words Advanced Robotic Technology for Enhanced Mobility and Improved Stability) can maintain its balance even when receiving strong kicks and pushes and not being affected by objects thrown at her, while also being able to run. But what sets ARTEMIS apart from all that is her ability to kick the ball.

“If your robot can’t even play a football game, how are you going to be able to use that robot for more important things, like saving people’s lives?” says Dennis Hong, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and director of the Robotics Laboratory. and Mechanisms (RoMeLa) at UCLA, which has developed ARTEMIS.

Technologies used in soccer-playing robots are also being used for other applications, such as firefighting and disaster relief operations, Hong said.

ARTEMIS may not be present at the next FIFA World Cup, but Hong’s team will showcase its full soccer capabilities at the RoboCup, the robot “World Cup” in July in Bordeaux, France.

The robot’s major innovation is that engineers custom-designed its actuators—the devices that generate motion from energy—to behave like biological muscles, as opposed to the rigid actuators most robots have.

ARTEMIS actuators are also unique in that they operate with electricity rather than hydraulics. This means that the robot is less noisy and works more efficiently, while it is also cleaner, as the hydraulic systems often leak liquids.

RoMeLa student Justin Kwan says that as far as he’s concerned, he wants to build robots to improve people’s lives.

ARTEMIS

“Seeing these robots help push robotic technology to the next level is really rewarding because you think the dream is getting closer,” he explains.