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Would there be any benefit to not try to replicate human movement directly? For example, maybe balance would be easier by adding a "tail" that drags along behind with a small wheel under it.

I would think that the main benefits that people would look for over a wheel chair, are being able to go over uneven surfaces / stairs, and being at the right height to reach things.

I'm imagining a system where the user is strapped to a seat of a machine with the legs slightly bent and in front, and and the machine's two legs maneuver by telescoping. That way, you need one motor to control how far a leg is extended, and another one to control forward swing. The tail would help with balance, and also hold the battery pack.




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