'Hedgehog' Robots Hop, Tumble in Microgravity(jpl.nasa.gov)
jpl.nasa.gov
'Hedgehog' Robots Hop, Tumble in Microgravity
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4712&again
11 comments
Very clever. Besides the name (which is clearly well chosen) the idea of putting the moving parts on the inside where they can be sealed and protected from dust, evaporation of lubricants, etc seems like a really good idea.
I wonder how much energy rotating a flywheel to move compares to something like a snake or fish? I'd've thought wiggling around would be less energetic... but maybe a cube covered with solar panels would work better.
Maybe ask the Cubli[0] people? Gajamohan Mohanarajah was apparently active on youtube and G+ in the past, and Raffaello D'Andrea has a contact form on his website.
[0] http://raffaello.name/projects/cubli/
[0] http://raffaello.name/projects/cubli/
Part of it could be regenerated, though these ones are using mechanical brakes. Though, is energy use really a serious limitation in a lander/rover? These things hang around for months or more, so they can recharge from the sun just by waiting a bit.
The longer they wait, the more dust settles, and the less energy they produce.
A nice video on the cubli: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_6p-1J551Y
Swarmbots (eg multiple robots that act as a swarm) are really cool https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJOubyiITsE
While not a perfect simulation, anyone who's played Kerbal Space Program has probably learned the benefits of this method of locomotion.
For some entertaining sci-fi applications of this sort of tech, you should check out Seveneves by Neal Stephenson.
[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10178641