Leaping robots could embark on interplanetary exploration

Just as ASTRO and NextSat get ready for decommissioning, a duo of lightweight leapers are getting geared up to take the proverbial next step from testing to interplanetary exploration. Jollbot and Glumper, crafted by a group of mechanical engineers from the University of Bath, could provide solutions to "traveling across rough terrain, such as climbing stairs and jumping fences, that normally create obstacles for wheeled and walking robots." The machines utilize biologically inspired mechanisms that enable them to clear heights of up to 1.17-meters and capriole forward about two-meters at a time. Researchers are hoping to equip the devices with solar panels in order to keep them juiced up and ready to pounce at a moment's notice (you know, in case a stray asteroid comes zipping in), but there's been no plans made yet to get devices such as these launched into orbit.

[John @ Jul 7th 2007 11:26AM]

"But there's been no plans made yet to get devices such as these launched into orbit."

Luckily not. It would be kinda stupid to put robots designed for exploration of the surface of a planet in an orbit around it.

[dale_nx26 @ Jul 7th 2007 11:52AM]

Can you explain this stupidity? I don't see a problem with being enclosed in an "orbit."

[mattnico @ Jul 7th 2007 5:50PM]

Dale, please tell me you're joking...

[Horny Ang Moh @ Jul 7th 2007 12:21PM]

Is this true?

[joe @ Jul 7th 2007 12:25PM]

I bet these robots are controlled by an iPhone.

[CarlOSdk @ Jul 7th 2007 1:44PM]

Spacy...

[ukbigbird @ Jul 7th 2007 4:30PM]

I, for one, welcome our biologically inspired overlords.

[Steve B @ Jul 10th 2007 7:42PM]

I can just imagine "The Captain" from the "Key to Time" Doctor Who episode "Pirate Planet" ranting:

"Great leaping robots of space!"

or something like that...