DEPLOYDatabase

Robot model

Bert

quadrupedresearchby DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics

Bert is a four-legged walking robot platform at DLR for researching highly dynamic and efficient running.

Track Bert
Manufacturer
DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics
Form factor
quadruped
Maturity
research
Lifecycle
active

The verified answer

As of Aug 2026, DEPLOY verifies Bert, a quadruped by DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics (research). 1 source back the record.

Overview

Bert is a four-legged walking robot platform at DLR for researching highly dynamic and efficient running. It was used in the Surface Avatar ISS-to-Earth telerobotic experiments as part of a heterogeneous robot team commanded by astronauts from the International Space Station. Bert is also a platform for the M-Runners ERC Advanced Grant project on energy-efficient legged locomotion.

Verified vs. claimed

Maturity stage
research(Lab-stage only; no commercial or public deployment reported.)
Sources on file
View all sources →

No verified deployments on file. DEPLOY tracks independently-sourced deployment evidence separately from manufacturer capability claims.

Key facts

Type

Elastic quadruped robot (research platform for energy-efficient locomotion)

Size

0.40m × 0.30m × 0.25m

Weight

3 kg

Degrees of freedom

8 (series elastic actuators with non-ferrous DC motors)

Speed

Approx. 0.8 km/h

Power supply

Wired or battery operated

Sensors

16 position sensors (two per joint), inertial sensor system

Manufacturer

DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics

Data & sources

Web sources

1

1 source backing this record.View all →

Pricing

No verified price is on record for Bert. Physical-AI systems are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price.

How DEPLOY tracks pricing

Recent activity

Every change to this record is dated, sourced, and independently verified where marked.

Full change history →

Safety record

No incidents on record for Bert.

Only active incidents are counted. Retracted incidents are excluded from this summary but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.

Sources (1)

  1. Surface Avatar · https://www.dlr.de/en/rm/research/projects/completed-projects/surface-avatar

Common questions

What is Bert?
Bert is a four-legged walking robot platform at DLR for researching highly dynamic and efficient running. It was used in the Surface Avatar ISS-to-Earth telerobotic experiments as part of a heterogeneous robot team commanded by astronauts from the International Space Station. Bert is also a platform for the M-Runners ERC Advanced Grant project on energy-efficient legged locomotion.
How much does Bert cost?
Bert's price is not publicly disclosed. DEPLOY has no verified price on record for Bert from DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics. Physical-AI systems like this are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price; check the manufacturer for the latest.
Is Bert actually deployed in the real world?
Bert is at the research stage: it exists, but DEPLOY has no verified real-world deployment on record. Manufacturer capability claims should be read as claims pending independent verification.
Who makes Bert?
Bert is made by DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, based in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany.
Can you buy Bert?
Bert is at research stage and is not yet available for sale.
What are alternatives to Bert?
On the DEPLOY registry, comparable quadruped robots to Bert include Spot, ANYbotics ANYmal, Unitree Go2, DEEP Robotics X30.
How does Bert compare to Spot?
Bert and Spot (Boston Dynamics · 28 deployments) are both quadruped robots on the DEPLOY registry. Bert has 0 verified deployments on record. Compare both records for specs, safety, deployments, and verified-vs-claimed autonomy.
Is Bert a top quadruped?
On DEPLOY's intelligence score, which blends verified deployments, safety, adoption, media, and IP signals, Bert ranks in roughly the top 63% of quadruped models tracked by the registry.
What is Bert's maturity stage?
Bert is at the research stage on the DEPLOY maturity ladder (research, prototype, pilot, commercial, production). Research stage means active development without commercial deployments on file.
Where is Bert deployed?
No verified deployments of Bert are currently on the DEPLOY registry. DEPLOY records deployments only when verified at a named site with a primary source; absence may reflect pre-deployment, research, or manufacturer-internal use.
Is Bert safe?
Bert has no incidents on record in the DEPLOY registry. This does not constitute a safety guarantee; it reflects the incidents DEPLOY has tracked and verified to date.
Methodology: Verified · 1 source (no primary) · last reviewed 2026-08-23

Verification posture

Verified

Low confidence

Review state

Stable

Last reviewed 2026-08-23

Maturity + lifecycle

Maturity stage: research

Lifecycle: active

Architectural position

Cohort: quadruped

Sources by quality tier

1
unclassified
Unclassified source

The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.

Methodology surface for Bert.

Recent coverage

Bert in third-party press

Sam Altman says he's worried about AI being controlled by a few powerful players

Aug 23, 2026

Across the country, Kennedy touts MAHA, but not vaccines

Aug 22, 2026

Bonds Ranch Road segment 4 improvements to bring much-needed relief to commuters

Aug 22, 2026