mlsanityData to 14 Oct 2026

Multi-Loco: Unifying Multi-Embodiment Legged Locomotion via Reinforcement Learning Augmented Diffusion

arXiv 2506.11470 ↗First posted 13 Jun 2025cs.ROcited by 7

On the map: Diffusion models → Diffusion and flow policies for robotics

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Abstract (arXiv)

Generalizing locomotion policies across diverse legged robots with varying morphologies is a key challenge due to differences in observation/action dimensions and system dynamics. In this work, we propose Multi-Loco, a novel unified framework combining a morphology-agnostic generative diffusion model with a lightweight residual policy optimized via reinforcement learning (RL). The diffusion model captures morphology-invariant locomotion patterns from diverse cross-embodiment datasets, improving generalization and robustness. The residual policy is shared across all embodiments and refines the actions generated by the diffusion model, enhancing task-aware performance and robustness for real-world deployment. We evaluated our method with a rich library of four legged robots in both simulation and real-world experiments. Compared to a standard RL framework with PPO, our approach -- replacing the Gaussian policy with a diffusion model and residual term -- achieves a 10.35% average return improvement, with gains up to 13.57% in wheeled-biped locomotion tasks. These results highlight the benefits of cross-embodiment data and composite generative architectures in learning robust, generalized locomotion skills.

Key facts. Cited by 7 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026). Placed in Diffusion and flow policies for robotics, one of 14 directions in Diffusion models. Builds on 30 of its 33 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 13 Jun 2025.

Builds on

30 of 33 references.

Closest ancestors · 1

Same direction, newest first

  1. 2023Diffusion Policy: Visuomotor Policy Learning via Action Diffusion7 Mar

Other references · 29

  1. 2020Denoising Diffusion Implicit Modelscited by 9,781
  2. 2020Score-Based Generative Modeling through Stochastic Differential Equationscited by 9,122
  3. 2022Scalable Diffusion Models with Transformerscited by 6,054
  4. 2022Elucidating the Design Space of Diffusion-Based Generative Modelscited by 3,045
  5. 2022DPM-Solver: A Fast ODE Solver for Diffusion Probabilistic Model Sampling in Around 10 Stepscited by 1,979
  6. 2024Octo: An Open-Source Generalist Robot Policycited by 1,484
  7. 2020Learning Quadrupedal Locomotion over Challenging Terraincited by 604
  8. 2021Learning to Walk in Minutes Using Massively Parallel Deep Reinforcement Learningcited by 512
  9. 2019Learning agile and dynamic motor skills for legged robotscited by 504
  10. 2022Learning robust perceptive locomotion for quadrupedal robots in the wildcited by 382
  11. 2024OmniH2O: Universal and Dexterous Human-to-Humanoid Whole-Body Teleoperation and Learningcited by 189
  12. 2023Extreme Parkour with Legged Robotscited by 164
17 more
  1. 2023ANYmal Parkour: Learning Agile Navigation for Quadrupedal Robotscited by 152
  2. 2024Scaling Cross-Embodied Learning: One Policy for Manipulation, Navigation, Locomotion and Aviationcited by 114
  3. 2024HOVER: Versatile Neural Whole-Body Controller for Humanoid Robotscited by 91
  4. 2021Torch.manual_seed(3407) is all you need: On the influence of random seeds in deep learning architectures for computer visioncited by 81
  5. 2023XSkill: Cross Embodiment Skill Discoverycited by 75
  6. 2024Advancing Humanoid Locomotion: Mastering Challenging Terrains with Denoising World Model Learningcited by 56
  7. 2024DiffuseLoco: Real-Time Legged Locomotion Control with Diffusion from Offline Datasetscited by 49
  8. 2022GenLoco: Generalized Locomotion Controllers for Quadrupedal Robotscited by 48
  9. 2024Learning Robust Autonomous Navigation and Locomotion for Wheeled-Legged Robotscited by 48
  10. 2025Learning Humanoid Standing-up Control across Diverse Posturescited by 46
  11. 2025BeamDojo: Learning Agile Humanoid Locomotion on Sparse Footholdscited by 46
  12. 2024One Policy to Run Them All: an End-to-end Learning Approach to Multi-Embodiment Locomotioncited by 43
  13. 2024CleanDiffuser: An Easy-to-use Modularized Library for Diffusion Models in Decision Makingcited by 39
  14. 2023Composite Motion Learning with Task Controlcited by 28
  15. 2023Polybot: Training One Policy Across Robots While Embracing Variabilitycited by 28
  16. 2024CTS: Concurrent Teacher-Student Reinforcement Learning for Legged Locomotioncited by 25
  17. 2023ManyQuadrupeds: Learning a Single Locomotion Policy for Diverse Quadruped Robotscited by 19

Built on by

Cited by year (2026 to 14 Oct)

Citing papers per year: 2026: 7.

7 papers.

Similar, not cited

Close in wording, no citation either way

  1. 2026PolyMorph: Learning Locomotion Policy for Cross-Embodiment Adaptation
  2. 2025Integrating Diffusion-based Multi-task Learning with Online Reinforcement Learning for Robust Quadruped Robot Control
  3. 2025Flexible Locomotion Learning with Diffusion Model Predictive Control
  4. 2024Offline Adaptation of Quadruped Locomotion using Diffusion Models
  5. 2024Leveraging Symmetry in RL-based Legged Locomotion Control
  6. 2025MoE-Loco: Mixture of Experts for Multitask Locomotion
  7. 2026Cross-Embodiment Offline Reinforcement Learning for Heterogeneous Robot Datasets
  8. 2024BiRoDiff: Diffusion policies for bipedal robot locomotion on unseen terrains