Ringbot Quad, monocycle robot with four legs, KIMLAB (Kinetic Intelligent Machine LAB), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, USA

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Developer - KIMLAB (Kinetic Intelligent Machine LAB)

 

[Administrator]

Ringbot: monocycle robot with legs

Feb 7, 2024

In this video, we present Ringbot, a novel leg-wheel transformer robot incorporating a monocycle mechanism with legs. Ringbot aims to provide versatile mobility by replacing the driver and driving components of a conventional monocycle vehicle with legs mounted on compact driving modules inside the wheel.

Ringbot represents KIMLAB's "ingenuity", demonstrating our ability to bring a sci-fi-like mobile robot to the real world through robotics.

Thank you for watching this video! If you're interested in exploring the technical details further, you can find them in the following link.

- Paper
K. G. Gim and J. Kim, "Ringbot: Monocycle Robot With Legs," in IEEE Transactions on Robotics, doi: 10.1109/TRO.2024.3362326

ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10423226

KIMLAB (Kinetic Intelligent Machine LAB)

Ringbot outdoor test

Apr 8, 2024

We conducted trials of Ringbot outdoors on a 400m track. With a power source of 2300mAh 11.1V, Ringbot managed to cover approximately 3km in 37 minutes. We commanded its target speed and direction using a remote joystick controller (Steam Deck), and Ringbot experienced five falls during this trial.

 

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Ringbot Quad: A Monocycle Robot with Four Legs for versatile wheel-leg transformable locomotion

Apr 23, 2026

In this video, we present Ringbot Quad, a novel monocycle robot with four legs that combines wheeled and legged locomotion on a single platform. Ringbot Quad is designed as a unique monocycle mechanism that replaces the traditional drivetrain with four individually actuated driving modules, each integrated with an articulated leg.

Ringbot Quad aims to provide versatile and efficient mobility through two distinct locomotion modes. In driving mode, the four legs assist with balance and steering, while in walking mode, they fully support the body for quadruped locomotion. By switching between these modes, Ringbot Quad can navigate diverse terrains and overcome obstacles that are difficult for either wheeled or legged systems alone.

Thank you for watching this video. If you are interested in the technical details, please stay tuned for our upcoming paper to be presented at ICRA 2026 in Vienna, Austria.

Kevin Gim and Joohyung Kim, ‘Ringbot Quad: A Monocycle Robot with Four Legs for Versatile Wheel-Leg Transformable Locomotion,’ IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), 2026