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IcerocketGround Bot
The GroundBot is a spherical sentry designed to roll up to 6 mph through just about anything—mud, sand, snow and even water. Two gyroscopically steadied wide-angle cameras and a suite of sensors give remote operators a real-time, 360-degree view of the landscape, letting them zoom in on prowlers or detect gas leaks, radioactivity and biohazards. Originally invented by Swedish physicists to explore other planets, the GroundBot features a tough design that requires almost no maintenance and can also be programmed to run autonomously. Its sealed shell protects its interior against grit and allows it to survive steep drops, while a rubber skin dampens vibration and provides traction. To get rolling, the robot simply shifts its weight. Its center of mass is suspended from a pendulum inside the sphere, so motors just push the pendulum to the front, to the back, or to the side. Lithium-ion batteries provide up to 16 hours of spy time. rotundus.se
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Today on PopSci.com
Copyright © 2008 Popular Science
A Bonnier Corporation Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Comments
Thats cool! Yeah, i remember the original one for mars
27 out of 50 people found this comment helpfulfrom Kent, WA
You can beat 16 hrs operational time by taking the extra batteries and the electric motor out and putting in a hamster. Make provision to feed, water, and keep the little critter oxygenated for a couple weeks.
35 out of 57 people found this comment helpfulthat cool that the GroundBot can go in water. and it has a battery that can lest up to 16 hours .
3 out of 9 people found this comment helpfuli like this bot it is easy to run and it can go almost any where. If we could use this in space we could use it on earth for something bigger. the only thing i want to know it what dose it run off of
0 out of 10 people found this comment helpfuli thought that it was good to read about. also what i found interesting about it was that it was made to roll up 6mph through anything. i found out it explores other planets. it's very good to use when you can.
2 out of 6 people found this comment helpfulfrom Canal Winchester, Ohio
its so cool because a hamsterweel thing in space.I think its pretty cool a thing about the size of a basketball that has a battery that lasts longer than some lab tops.I thought the pendulum idea was a nifty because its so simple but yet it took so long,why,I dont know all i know is if i would have thought of that i could put it to alot of good uses.My idea on the subject is why cant we put into cars.
1 out of 8 people found this comment helpfulHave you ever tried 4x4ing in a pickup with bald tires? yah, I think that this design isn't practical. It will be good for rolling around in the kitchen, but in an actual earth terrain... Yah..... NOPE.
1 out of 8 people found this comment helpfulSimilar to the previous spherical surveillance rovers for Mars, wouldn't this have difficulty treading steep inclines or up somewhat steep slopes or hilly terrain?
3 out of 6 people found this comment helpfulanyone who has any questions, go to rotundus.se it has a video of it in action, too. I only wonder how much it costs. probably something like 100,000,000,000,000,000$ I wish I could have one for christmas!
2 out of 4 people found this comment helpfulmake a lot bigger, more powerful motor, a lot more batteries, a couple of vents here and there, and stuff someone inside.
1 out of 2 people found this comment helpfulsure, it can't climb more than a 20 degree incline without rolling over, but since when have you gone to work in a giant hamtser wheel?