Sister blog of Physicists of the Caribbean in which I babble about non-astronomy stuff, because everyone needs a hobby

Friday 18 November 2016

A skateboarding balloon robot that walks on water

OK, it's restored my faith in humanity a little bit to know that we've invented a skateboarding balloon that walks on water.

The helium-filled body is just barely counteracted by the spindly legs and feet. The feet hide the actuating cables that bend the legs along a single degree of freedom, with very limited force. But it’s enough to put one foot in front of the other, or hop in place and a few other little tricks.

Changing its locomotion style (four legs instead of two, for instance, or giving a bit more power) could allow it to go faster, jump higher, even walk on water — and versions with these capabilities are all being pursued by the lab. Although in all cases there’s the risk of it blowing away.

https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/16/oh-the-humanoid-dont-worry-this-blimp-bodied-robot-cant-crash/?ncid=rss

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