Terrain Interaction

Terrain interaction research focuses on enabling robots to navigate diverse and challenging environments by accurately predicting and adapting to the forces and dynamics of robot-terrain contact. Current efforts concentrate on developing sophisticated models, including physics-informed and self-supervised learning approaches, to predict robot pose and trajectory, often incorporating detailed representations of terrain properties like deformability and granular characteristics. This work is crucial for improving the robustness and efficiency of autonomous robots in various applications, from planetary exploration to search and rescue operations, by enhancing locomotion control and navigation strategies.