Large-scale bipedal platforms — anthropomorphic robots of 15–20 metres in height — have long been constrained by a fundamental energetic barrier: no existing power storage or transmission technology can deliver the sustained 10–100 MW required for dynamic locomotion and operation at this scale. This paper proposes CryoLink, a novel power umbilical system that resolves this constraint through the combination of cryogenically cooled copper conductors maintained at approximately −190°C via a closed-loop liquid nitrogen (LN2) circulation jacket, a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) inner liner, and a carbon fibre composite outer protective sheath. By reducing conductor resistance by approximately an order of magnitude relative to room-temperature operation, CryoLink enables high-power transmission through a lightweight, mechanically flexible cable. The system is paired with a mobile ground support platform housing two NuScale Small Modular Reactor (SMR) modules providing 154 MW total electrical output with a 24-year fuel lifespan. A supplementary high-power burst mode, termed Overdrive, is described wherein reserve reactor capacity is redirected to actuator systems for short-duration peak performance. All proposed component technologies exist at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6–9. This paper argues that the power problem in large-scale bipedal robotics is closer to resolution than previously recognised, and provides a systems-level engineering framework for further development.
Viraj Shoor (Sat,) studied this question.