Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Karen Bodie is a robotics researcher whose work spans mobile robotics, aerial systems, and autonomous inspection technologies. She is best known for her contributions to legged and wheeled robotic platforms, most notably the ANYmal quadrupedal robot — a 30 kg, torque-controlled robotic dog celebrated for its dynamic mobility and robustness under impulsive loads. Her seminal 2016 paper on ANYmal has accumulated over 860 citations, establishing it as a landmark contribution to legged locomotion research. Bodie also contributed to the development of Ascento, an agile two-wheeled jumping robot designed for high-speed indoor navigation (243 citations), and the ANYpulator, a safe and compliant robotic arm built for dynamic interaction tasks. Her research extends into aerial robotics, where she has pioneered autonomous flying robots for non-destructive corrosion inspection of reinforced concrete structures — addressing critical challenges in civil infrastructure monitoring that traditional methods struggle to meet. Her work on omnidirectional tilt-rotor platforms further demonstrates her expertise in aerial physical interaction. Across platforms ranging from quadrupeds to drones, Bodie's research consistently bridges mechanical innovation with real-world applicability, making her a significant voice in modern field robotics.