Quadruped robots, with their unique point-contact ability and adaptability to complex terrains, have become a focus in automation and robotic engineering. This review discusses key technical areas of quadruped robots, including structural design, gait planning, traditional and intelligent control strategies, and autonomous movement. It aims to provide theoretical support and technical guidance for future research. Quadruped robots are categorized into wheeled, tracked, and legged types, with legged robots offering superior adaptability to complex terrains. Among legged robots, quadruped robots are particularly notable for their strong carrying capacity, stability, and simpler structure compared to hexapod and octopod robots. The torso of a quadruped robot is a floating base, allowing it to traverse complex terrains even when carrying a load. Recent research has focused on enhancing dynamic stability, motion speed, and transportation capacity of quadruped robots. These robots have applications in military, exploration, industrial, and service sectors, including disaster response, inspection, and companionship. Quadruped robots are typically designed with a body, thighs, shanks, and feet, and their motion is driven by various mechanisms, including hydraulic, motor, and pneumatic drives. Hydraulic-driven robots have high power density and can carry heavy loads, while motor-driven robots are smaller, quieter, and easier to control. Pneumatic-driven robots offer low manufacturing costs and flexibility but face challenges in control accuracy. The body structure of quadruped robots can be rigid or flexible, with flexible torsos enhancing adaptability and movement speed. Leg structures are categorized into linkage and scaled types, with linkage legs offering a wide range of motion and scaled legs providing dynamic adjustments for terrain. Leg topology structures include insect-like, reptile-like, and mammal-like designs, each with distinct advantages in different environments. Foot structures are designed to enhance adaptability, with cylindrical or spherical feet providing better contact with various surfaces. Control strategies for quadruped robots include motion planning, gait generation, and motion control. Gait generation methods such as CPG, SLIP, ZMP, and Bezier curves are used to plan leg trajectories and ensure stability. Motion control methods include model-based and model-independent approaches, with CPG and neural networks offering high adaptability and robustness. These control strategies are essential for achieving dynamic stability and enhancing the overall performance of quadruped robots in complex environments.Quadruped robots, with their unique point-contact ability and adaptability to complex terrains, have become a focus in automation and robotic engineering. This review discusses key technical areas of quadruped robots, including structural design, gait planning, traditional and intelligent control strategies, and autonomous movement. It aims to provide theoretical support and technical guidance for future research. Quadruped robots are categorized into wheeled, tracked, and legged types, with legged robots offering superior adaptability to complex terrains. Among legged robots, quadruped robots are particularly notable for their strong carrying capacity, stability, and simpler structure compared to hexapod and octopod robots. The torso of a quadruped robot is a floating base, allowing it to traverse complex terrains even when carrying a load. Recent research has focused on enhancing dynamic stability, motion speed, and transportation capacity of quadruped robots. These robots have applications in military, exploration, industrial, and service sectors, including disaster response, inspection, and companionship. Quadruped robots are typically designed with a body, thighs, shanks, and feet, and their motion is driven by various mechanisms, including hydraulic, motor, and pneumatic drives. Hydraulic-driven robots have high power density and can carry heavy loads, while motor-driven robots are smaller, quieter, and easier to control. Pneumatic-driven robots offer low manufacturing costs and flexibility but face challenges in control accuracy. The body structure of quadruped robots can be rigid or flexible, with flexible torsos enhancing adaptability and movement speed. Leg structures are categorized into linkage and scaled types, with linkage legs offering a wide range of motion and scaled legs providing dynamic adjustments for terrain. Leg topology structures include insect-like, reptile-like, and mammal-like designs, each with distinct advantages in different environments. Foot structures are designed to enhance adaptability, with cylindrical or spherical feet providing better contact with various surfaces. Control strategies for quadruped robots include motion planning, gait generation, and motion control. Gait generation methods such as CPG, SLIP, ZMP, and Bezier curves are used to plan leg trajectories and ensure stability. Motion control methods include model-based and model-independent approaches, with CPG and neural networks offering high adaptability and robustness. These control strategies are essential for achieving dynamic stability and enhancing the overall performance of quadruped robots in complex environments.