StarlETH

StarlETH is a compliant four-legged research robot from the Robotics Systems Lab at ETH Zurich in Switzerland. Weighing about 23 kg, it was created to study energy-efficient, dynamic legged locomotion, and it remains an influential platform in the field.

The StarlETH quadruped robot is defined by its actuation: twelve highly compliant series-elastic actuators, three per leg, incorporate mechanical springs that decouple the motor and gearbox from the joint, enabling torque control with energy storage for agile, efficient walking and running. An inertial measurement unit combined with high-precision joint encoders on every leg provides accurate state feedback. Its closed-source real-time control software supports torque control, hierarchical task-space inverse dynamics and motion planning, tightly coupled with a simulation environment for developing and testing controllers.

The Robotics Systems Lab applies StarlETH to inspections, search and rescue, security patrols and entertainment, where its efficient, dynamic gait and rough-terrain capability make it a testbed for advanced locomotion and a demonstrator for real-world mobility. This makes the ETH Zurich StarlETH especially valuable for research groups studying dynamic balance, energy efficiency and adaptive gait.

Nexon System supports StarlETH-class platforms across Southeast Asia, providing commissioning, control and task programming support, sensor integration, and researcher training with ongoing support. We help labs stand up the control and simulation environment, integrate additional sensing, and translate research controllers into repeatable demonstrations or field trials. Talk to Nexon to plan a StarlETH deployment for your lab.