# Episode 137: Getting two-legged robots moving - Oluwami Dosunmu-Ogunbi

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2025-12-12
- Length: 30m
- Episode: 137
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-12-12-episode-137-getting-two-legged-robots-moving-oluwami-dosunmu-ogunbi
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-137-getting-two-legged-robots-moving-oluwami-dosunmu-ogunbi

## Summary

Oluwami Dosunmu-Ogunbi, an Assistant Professor at Ohio Northern University and the first Black woman to earn a PhD in Robotics at the University of Michigan, discusses her research on bipedal robots that can climb stairs. She explains the mathematical challenges of using ankle motors and managing center of mass during stair climbing, contrasting bipedal robots with wheeled and quadrupedal systems for home care applications. The conversation also covers her development of the 'Biped Bootcamp' curriculum to make robotics education more accessible and her advocacy for diversity in the field to prevent algorithmic bias.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-12-12-episode-137-getting-two-legged-robots-moving-oluwami-dosunmu-ogunbi#t=7) Introduction and Research Background
- [4:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-12-12-episode-137-getting-two-legged-robots-moving-oluwami-dosunmu-ogunbi#t=268) Mathematical Challenges of Stair Climbing
- [7:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-12-12-episode-137-getting-two-legged-robots-moving-oluwami-dosunmu-ogunbi#t=473) Robot Type Selection and Home Care Applications
- [11:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-12-12-episode-137-getting-two-legged-robots-moving-oluwami-dosunmu-ogunbi#t=660) Safety Mechanisms for Bipedal Robots
- [14:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-12-12-episode-137-getting-two-legged-robots-moving-oluwami-dosunmu-ogunbi#t=852) Diversity, Bias, and DEI in Robotics
- [21:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-12-12-episode-137-getting-two-legged-robots-moving-oluwami-dosunmu-ogunbi#t=1282) The Biped Bootcamp Curriculum
- [25:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-12-12-episode-137-getting-two-legged-robots-moving-oluwami-dosunmu-ogunbi#t=1537) State of Humanoid Robotics and Future Outlook

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Ohio Northern University (company)
- University of Michigan (company)
- Jolie Robotics (company)
- Digit (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [3 Laws robot safety and the evolution of bipedal locomotion](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-02-16-3-laws-robot-safety-and-the-evolution-of-bipedal-locomotion) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [The Robot Report Podcast Ep. 1: Agility Robotics on Legged Robotics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-06-02-the-robot-report-podcast-ep-1-agility-robotics-on-legged-robotics) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Black in Robotics’ Ayanna Howard, Monroe Kennedy III on diversity & inclusion](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-09-16-black-in-robotics-ayanna-howard-monroe-kennedy-iii-on-diversity-inclusion) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [68. Bird-inspired Bipedal Robots & Robotic Surgeons](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-05-03-68-bird-inspired-bipedal-robots-robotic-surgeons) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [393: Don't Drive My Baby Off the Table](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-11-19-393-dont-drive-my-baby-off-the-table) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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