Learning Dynamic Pick-and-Place for a Legged Manipulator

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Jung, Moonkyu, Lee, Jiseong, He, Zhengmao, Youm, Donghoon, Mun, Juhyeok, Kim, HyeongJun, Oh, Hyunsik, Choi, Donghyuk, Hur, Jungwoo, Song, Jie, Hwangbo, Jemin
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Jung, Moonkyu
Lee, Jiseong
He, Zhengmao
Youm, Donghoon
Mun, Juhyeok
Kim, HyeongJun
Oh, Hyunsik
Choi, Donghyuk
Hur, Jungwoo
Song, Jie
Hwangbo, Jemin
author_facet Jung, Moonkyu
Lee, Jiseong
He, Zhengmao
Youm, Donghoon
Mun, Juhyeok
Kim, HyeongJun
Oh, Hyunsik
Choi, Donghyuk
Hur, Jungwoo
Song, Jie
Hwangbo, Jemin
contents Legged manipulators extend robotic capabilities beyond static manipulation by integrating agile locomotion with versatile arm control. However, achieving precise manipulation while maintaining coordinated locomotion remains a major challenge. This work presents a hierarchical reinforcement learning framework for dynamic pick-and-place tasks using a quadruped equipped with a 6-DOF robotic arm. The framework incorporates an explicit mass estimation module enabling adaptive whole-body control for objects with varying weights. In simulation, the system achieves an 86.05% success rate with payloads up to 2.3 kg. The approach is further validated through real-world experiments across six representative scenarios with controlled variations in object physical properties (size and mass) and task heights. Specifically, within a wide vertical workspace ranging from ground level to 1.1~m-high tabletops, the system demonstrates an average success rate of 73.3% for payloads up to 1.3 kg, with an average execution time of 4.06 s. Unlike prior works that handle lightweight objects and execute pick-and-place motions with slow, piecewise motions, the proposed framework exploits concurrent locomotion and manipulation for dynamic, continuous execution. These results demonstrate the potential of quadrupedal mobile manipulators for adaptive, whole-body pick-and-place with heavier payloads and extended workspaces.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_15713
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Learning Dynamic Pick-and-Place for a Legged Manipulator
Jung, Moonkyu
Lee, Jiseong
He, Zhengmao
Youm, Donghoon
Mun, Juhyeok
Kim, HyeongJun
Oh, Hyunsik
Choi, Donghyuk
Hur, Jungwoo
Song, Jie
Hwangbo, Jemin
Robotics
Artificial Intelligence
Legged manipulators extend robotic capabilities beyond static manipulation by integrating agile locomotion with versatile arm control. However, achieving precise manipulation while maintaining coordinated locomotion remains a major challenge. This work presents a hierarchical reinforcement learning framework for dynamic pick-and-place tasks using a quadruped equipped with a 6-DOF robotic arm. The framework incorporates an explicit mass estimation module enabling adaptive whole-body control for objects with varying weights. In simulation, the system achieves an 86.05% success rate with payloads up to 2.3 kg. The approach is further validated through real-world experiments across six representative scenarios with controlled variations in object physical properties (size and mass) and task heights. Specifically, within a wide vertical workspace ranging from ground level to 1.1~m-high tabletops, the system demonstrates an average success rate of 73.3% for payloads up to 1.3 kg, with an average execution time of 4.06 s. Unlike prior works that handle lightweight objects and execute pick-and-place motions with slow, piecewise motions, the proposed framework exploits concurrent locomotion and manipulation for dynamic, continuous execution. These results demonstrate the potential of quadrupedal mobile manipulators for adaptive, whole-body pick-and-place with heavier payloads and extended workspaces.
title Learning Dynamic Pick-and-Place for a Legged Manipulator
topic Robotics
Artificial Intelligence
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.15713