Cardea is the latest robot of the Humanoid Robotics group at the MIT CSAIL. It locomotes using a SEGWAY RMP (robotic mobility platform). It is currently equipped with cameras and sonar sensors for navigation. It also, currently, has 1 5 degree of freedom robotic arm that is designed with series elastic actuator technology. Using virtual spring models, it delivers human-like compliancy. Eventually Cardea's current vision system will be a robotic head with active perception and Cardea will be outfitted with 3 (yes, 3 and all different in length and hands) arms. The Cardea project is currently sponsored by DARPA.

Definition:

(Source: Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend)
The goddess of thresholds and especially door-pivots (cardo "door-pivot"). Just as Carna she is also a goddess of health. Cardea is the protectress of little children against the attacks of vampire-witches. She obtained the office from Janus in exchange for her personal favors. Ovid says of Cardea, apparently quoting a religious formula: 'Her power is to open what is shut; to shut what is open.'

PI: Rodney Brooks
MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL)
200 Technology Square - MIT Building NE43 - Cambridge, MA 02139 - USA - webmaster@csail.mit.edu

(Note: On July 1, 2003, the AI Lab and LCS merged to form CSAIL.)