> ....just seems illogical to spend so much effort to develop what is clearly a very limited and complex mode of operation
Quadrupedal motion is for locomotion. Bipedal motion is for transportation.
Bipedal motion frees up two limbs to carry stuff around, open locks, get into cars and drive, move into and out of crowded, people-packed spaces (elevators) where horizontal space is limited but vertical space is plenty and so on.
And since we’re taking about robots, the two freed up limbs need not be “normal” limbs but tools specialised for the job at hand that cannot be used for locomotion purposes (the "arms" can be guns, welding machines or forks for carrying weights)
Also, robots that look and act like humans are an easier sell and selling them is the hardest part about getting these robots mainstream.
Have no doubt, perfecting bipedal motion is a worthwhile endeavor.
Quadrupedal motion is for locomotion. Bipedal motion is for transportation.
Bipedal motion frees up two limbs to carry stuff around, open locks, get into cars and drive, move into and out of crowded, people-packed spaces (elevators) where horizontal space is limited but vertical space is plenty and so on.
And since we’re taking about robots, the two freed up limbs need not be “normal” limbs but tools specialised for the job at hand that cannot be used for locomotion purposes (the "arms" can be guns, welding machines or forks for carrying weights)
Also, robots that look and act like humans are an easier sell and selling them is the hardest part about getting these robots mainstream.
Have no doubt, perfecting bipedal motion is a worthwhile endeavor.