From Italy to Spain to benchmark legged robots for agricultural environments

From late August to late September 2025, Manolo Garabini, researcher at the University of Pisa, carried out a secondment at the Centro de Automática y Robótica (CAR) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in Madrid, within the NeutraWeed Project.

His secondment focused on developing a benchmarking methodology for legged robots, with particular attention to quadrupedal robots operating on irregular and sloped terrains similar to those found in agricultural environments.

During his stay, Manolo contributed to the design and experimental testing of a dedicated benchmarking platform aimed at evaluating robot stability, navigation and maneuverability under different surface and inclination conditions. The work also explored the potential application of Iterative Learning Control (ILC) to robotic locomotion, building on expertise developed within the NeutraWeed research network.

Alongside the research activities, the secondment provided opportunities for scientific exchange and networking. Manolo presented a seminar on his work, participated in regular laboratory meetings and exchanged ideas with researchers at CAR on ongoing developments in legged robotics and locomotion.

A key outcome of the secondment was the successful development and validation of a comprehensive benchmarking framework, combining a modular testbed, standardized testing procedures and performance indicators for assessing stability, efficiency and trajectory accuracy. The results were also consolidated into a research paper, providing a foundation for more reproducible evaluation of legged robots.

The framework offers a scalable approach to testing robotic locomotion in realistic yet controlled environments, with potential applications in agricultural settings and other unstructured terrains.

Manolo’s secondment strengthened collaboration between the University of Pisa and CSIC, contributing to the development of robust and systematic approaches for evaluating legged robots in real-world environments.

Stay tuned for more updates from the NeutraWeed international research community!