Hexapod robots have a large number of real life applications, from crossing potentially dangerous terrain to carrying out search and rescue operations in hazardous and unpredictable disaster zones (Karalarli, 2003). They have a number of advantages over wheeled, quadruped or bipedal robots:
- While wheeled robots are faster on level ground than legged robots, hexapods are the fastest of the legged robots, as they have the optimum number of legs for walking speed - studies have shown that a larger number of legs does not increase walking speed (Alexadre et al, 1991).
- Hexapods are also superior to wheeled robots because wheeled robots need a continuous, even and most often a pre-constructed path. Hexapod robots however can traverse uneven ground, step over obstacles and choose footholds to maximise stability and traction (Ding et al, 2010).
- Having maneuverable legs allows hexapods to turn around on the spot (Ding et al, 2010).
- In comparison to other multi-legged robots, hexapods have a higher degree of stability as there are can be up to 5 legs in contact with the ground during walking. Also, the robots center of mass stays consistently within the tripod created by the leg movements, which also gives great stability (Mushrush & Spirito, 1978).
- Hexapods also show robustness, because leg faults or loss can be managed by changing the walking mechanism (Ding et al, 2010).
- This redundancy of legs also makes it possible to use one or more legs as hands to perform dexterous tasks (Ding et al, 2010).
