1 gram: University of Washington's DirectHop robot hops over a stair step
Researchers built a palm-size robot that pulls itself up with a motor instead of pushing off the ground like a spring.
Scientists made a robot as light as a paperclip that can hop high enough to climb a stair. It is still a lab test, but one day it may explore places that are hard to reach.
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Why it matters
Tiny hopping robots could one day explore rough ground where wheels get stuck.
Worth a look: a flea-style hopper you can picture easily.
The details
- DirectHop weighs about 1 gram and fits in a hand.
- It has three folding legs inside a cage of 0.25mm carbon fiber rods.
- A motor pulls the robot upward using a pulley and two strings.
- It lands upright in about 90% of lab tests.
- It is still wired for power and steered by people. The team plans a battery, solar cells and a camera.
Receipts
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