Capuchin robot climbs its way into your nightmares

As if there weren't enough creepy crawly robots out there already, a team of researchers from Stanford University have now let loose this little number, which they hope will one day be showing off its rock-climbing skills on Mars. Dubbed Capuchin, the bot is a follow-up to the Lemur robot built by the same team, and promises to climb walls some 40 times faster than that earlier model. To do that, the researchers apparently didn't make any major mechanical changes, but rather employed a more advanced computer program that guides the bot's every move. More specifically, as NewScientist reports, the software uses a sophisticated load-balancing system, which distributes the bot's weight equally to its arms and legs and improves its stability when climbing. As you can see for yourself in the video after the break, that appears to work remarkably well, although we still wouldn't trust it to be a partner on your next rock-climbing expedition.

[Flashpoint @ Mar 20th 2008 2:30PM]

robot roadkill

[Flashpoint @ Mar 20th 2008 2:30PM]

robot roadkill

[Patriks7 @ Mar 20th 2008 2:37PM]

we are all doomed!

[OneLove @ Mar 20th 2008 2:47PM]

Is that the dyson douche bag talking

[tribalmasters @ Mar 20th 2008 3:12PM]

Does it even lick itself? Enhanced version of Doom in ROM?

[Christian Martin @ Mar 20th 2008 3:15PM]

The joints/digits almost look like LGA775 heat sink clips.

[tombones @ Mar 20th 2008 3:16PM]

a slothbot

[Tim @ Mar 20th 2008 4:04PM]

What does Engadget have against robots???

In every post about a robot they usually use creepy, scary, or "going to take over the world"...

Did you guys have a bad experience with robots as children or something???

[Teresa @ Mar 20th 2008 5:59PM]

Actually, Capuchin was built at/by Stanford, Lemur was built by JPL. Just for the record.

[Conor Maher @ Mar 20th 2008 6:13PM]

Looks like his joints are made from the clips on Intel stock HSFs..... :D