spherical robot climbing up a step

Spherical robot capable of climbing steep inclines and overcoming large obstacles. Invented by Greg Schroll.

Received the Next Generation Award at the 2009 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Awards.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/robotics/4332921.html?series=88

Undergraduate winner of Collegiate Inventors Competition 2008.

http://www.invent.org/collegiate/finalists_2008.html#schroll

18 inch diameter sphere climbing up a 5 inch step.

Patent Pending.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• sphere
• spherical
• robot
• ball
• vehicle
• greg
• schroll
• popular
• mechanics
• breakthrough
• awards
• 2009
• next
• generation
• Collegiate
• Inventors
• Competition
• 2008
• MIT

[jollyjosh11]

Where can I get one? - or at least an inexpensive radio controlled ball that will go up a slight hill. Looking for a toy - not an otherworldly exporer.

[highgearengineer]

@jollyjosh11 check out Sphero made by a cool startup in Boulder, CO. gosphero.com

[Lasrin]

Now you're just showing off.. not that I blame you. What about multiple stairs? Or showing a turn, or a series of turns?

[highgearengineer]

This proof of concept prototype was only intended to demonstrate the ability of climbing one step. While in theory, It could climb one stair, reset its flywheels, and then climb another, its very difficult to do this manually via remote. The next prototype (currently under development) will be able to climb full flights of stairs. The sphere can already turn using the mass inside, but its also difficult to control and will work much better in the next prototype.

[patrickcorliss]

@highgearengineer

Another obstacle ballbot on YouTube performs its task with a leg. Your ballbot doesn't do that. So how do you gain the momentum to push up the stair?

As well, how are you going with your next prototype?

[highgearengineer]

@patrickcorliss

the machine uses gyroscopes to store angular momentum inside and can rapidly dispense this momentum when needed to generate the additional torque necessary for climbing large obstacles like stairs. The technology behind how this works is patent pending and we are now attempting to commercialize it under a new company called Carbide Robotics. Development is well underway for the next prototype. Stay tuned.

[snomimons]

I like the bit where it rolls.

[wer6399]

ROBOTS #FTW

[rhysfawr4]

Impressive.