Hip torque and radial forcing along the leg are two common actuation methods for legged robots. However, hip torque and radial forcing have not been compared as potential alternative strategies of actuation. The respective advantages and disadvantages of hip torque and radial forcing are not well known. In this paper, we compare hip torque and radial forcing actuation through the simulation of two models: a Rotary-forced Spring-Loaded Inverted Pendulum and a Radially Forced Spring-Loaded Inverted Pendulum. Both actuation methods can produce fully asymptotically stable locomotion. Interestingly, it is found that they improve locomotion stability in different ways: hip torque first destabilizes locomotion when initially introduced but greatly stabilizes locomotion when it keeps increasing; radial forcing always stabilizes locomotion, but in a moderate way.

Recent locomotion models have demonstrated the benefits of hip torques on legged locomotion stability. Here, a simple constant radial forcing function along the leg of the Spring-Loaded Inverted Pendulum (SLIP) model is added. This model is analyzed in order to determine what effect such a radial force might have on the stability of locomotion versus the more commonly used hip-torque forcing. The model is found to be unstable for the vast majority of the parameter space studied, for any amount of added forcing and damping constants. This suggests that simple constant forcing along the leg does not produce stable locomotion, unlike the case where forcing happens via hip torque.