Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Robot Balances on a Single Spherical Wheel

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the so-robots-can-unicycle-then dept.

dalangalma writes "Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute have developed a new kind of robot called the Ballbot that balances on a steel ball. Using a mechanism similar to a ball mouse, the Ballbot uses rollers to drive its single, spherical wheel and balance in place or glide around the room. The promise of such dynamically stable robots is that they can be much taller without having to have a wide base, making them much more suitable for working with humans. They are also much more agile, since they can be pushed out of the way easily without falling over. You can read the press release or check out the project's web page when it recovers from traffic."

4 of 211 comments (clear)

  1. meet the new dalek by mgabrys_sf · · Score: 5, Funny

    re:"The promise of such dynamically stable robots is that they can be much taller without having to have a wide base, making them much more suitable for working with humans. "

    Until said humans goes down a flight of stairs.

    *Oof*
    *Bounce*
    *Expensive crashey noises*

    At this rate we'll have-em screaming "exterminate" in no time.

    (and yes I know post 2005 Daleks can do everything and go everywhere - I'm talking pre-video-game dalek)

  2. I for one... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    welcome our big balled overlords

  3. Re:Piers Anthony alien race from Cluster? by NinjaFarmer · · Score: 5, Funny

    You remember how they have sex but you can't remember their name?.. ?

    I can't count the times I've asked myself something similar in the morning.

  4. Re:Ooops by I+Like+Pudding · · Score: 5, Funny

    Incorrect. Weeblots wobble, but they don't fall down.