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Stanford Team Developing Spiked Robots To Explore Phobos

Posted by Unknown on from the target-practice-for-doom dept.

cylonlover writes "Robot hedgehogs on the moons of Mars may sound like the title of a B-grade sci-fi movie, but that is what Stanford University is working on. Marco Pavone, an assistant professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and his team are developing spherical robots called 'hedgehogs' that are about half a meter (1.6 ft) wide and covered in spikes to better cope with rolling and hopping across the surface of the Martian moon Phobos with its very low gravity."

5 of 49 comments (clear)

  1. I don't get it by Dunbal · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How does reducing the actual surface area in contact with the ground help it stay on a moon with low gravity? Or are the "spikes" expected to sink into the "dust" or something? What happens when this thing drives over a rock?

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    1. Re:I don't get it by DiamondGeezer · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The problem with low gravity is low friction. So in order to drive across a body with low gravity, you need to increase the effective coefficient of friction (or increase the mass, which makes it more expensive to get there).

      In answer to your second question, you keep the speed down.

      On the other hand if you need to jump across something, then just a little boost will do it...

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      Tubby or not tubby. Fat is the question
    2. Re:I don't get it by bws111 · · Score: 4, Informative

      The spikes aren't providing traction or propulsion, they are holding it above the surface. It moves by inertia. There are three spinning disks that they change the rotation of, and that change in rotation makes the thing 'fall over', and hence move.

  2. Infocom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Should fit in well with the Leather Godesses.

  3. Re:Waste of money. by vlm · · Score: 5, Funny

    Given that Phobos is most likely a captured body, this does not seem like a good return on the investment.

    Why, do they expect to be charged with receipt of stolen property?

    --
    "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger