Duke University, North Carolina – Researchers have developed a new AI system that helps robots navigate difficult environments like dense forests and rough terrain.

The system combines sight, touch, sound, and balance to give robots a human-like understanding of their surroundings. This allows four-legged robots to find safe paths where traditional machines struggle.

Robots usually rely only on cameras or lidar. But this new method adds contact microphones and tactile sensors. These sensors detect vibrations and pressure as the robot moves, helping it sense the ground’s stability and slipperiness.

The AI processes this information to create a detailed picture of the environment. Even when vision is blocked or unclear, the robot can “fill in the blanks” to avoid dangers and choose the best path.

Tests in a forest near Duke’s campus showed the robot moving confidently through thick brush, grasslands, and gravel paths.

This technology could help robots in disaster zones, remote inspections, and exploration of wild areas.

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