Video: Virginia Tech's IMPASS robot has spokes, but no rims

It's been a few years since we saw an early, fledgling render of IMPASS, the Intelligent Mobility Platform with Actuated Spoke System under development at Virginia Tech's Robotics & Mechanisms Lab. Now look at it, all grown up and featured front and center in an episode of our favorite show for geeking out: Engineering TV. The bot, with its rimless wheels, is shown dynamically adjusting the length of each spoke as appropriate to scamper up over obstacles or cross divots unperturbed. Two motors provide movement while three more inside the wheels themselves use treads to shift the spokes in and out based on inputs from laser and IR range finders, ensuring this ride's height is always precisely calculated. We know who to call before the next Engadget lowrider throw down.

[Phoenix @ Oct 15th 2008 12:42PM]

Guess you can't give it a rimjob then

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 15th 2008 1:35PM]

The beauty in it is that it can GIVE 12 rimjobs.

[OneLove @ Oct 15th 2008 3:55PM]

Throw some D's on that bitch!

[Cardbored @ Oct 15th 2008 12:52PM]

Should have thrown some 22's on that bitch! Balla!

[Strange Quark Star @ Oct 15th 2008 12:58PM]

Snow Crash, once again!

I eagerly await skateboards and motorcycles with this kind of wheels.

[maladat @ Oct 15th 2008 12:59PM]

Sounds like someone has been reading Snow Crash. It looks like a simpler version of smartwheels.

[--------- @ Oct 15th 2008 2:00PM]

Anyone as old as I remember the Major Matt Moonstone toys of the Apolo era? Mjr. Matt had a batter powered lunar rover that looked and worked a lot like this, only 4 spokes though. Kind of a bumpy ride.

http://www.samstoybox.com/toypics/SpaceCrawler.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Matt_Mason

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 15th 2008 1:00PM]

1:31, Accelerated Development, the sequel to the highly acclaimed, award winning, robo version of Arrested Development, everyone's favorite, witty sitcom.

[Scott Berfield @ Oct 15th 2008 1:03PM]

I had one of those in the mid-60's -- it's Major Matt Mason's crawler.
http://www.samstoybox.com/toypics/SpaceCrawler.jpg

[--------- @ Oct 15th 2008 2:05PM]

I posted above without reading further, sorry!

I had one too, and the moonbase setup and a bunch of other stuff...

[Jeremy @ Oct 15th 2008 1:06PM]

Major Matt Mason's Space Crawler!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2345/2174330858_c82be64f20.jpg?v=0

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 15th 2008 1:21PM]

That's pretty darn clever!

Yes, it does look like Matt Mason's Crawler, good one those that pointed it out! :D

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 15th 2008 2:23PM]

What a stupid design men.
If this "crawler" were to flip over on its side, and apparently an irregular shaped obstacle or just a light breeze would be enough to do that, it would stop "crawling" for good.
Back to the design board you morons.

[Harry Wagstaff @ Oct 15th 2008 2:56PM]

Maybe you should change your username to KillJOY Trout.

Anyway, have you seen how wide it is? You'd more or less have to literally pick it up and put it on its side.

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 15th 2008 3:01PM]

So I take it all of your cars have wheels on the roof in case they flip over?

[Wwhat @ Oct 15th 2008 2:24PM]

Hey fools, of course people have made 'wheels' with just spokes, but that drives as bumpy and hopelessly as possible, in this case the new and smart thing is that they dynamically change length ensuring a smooth movement of the body while gaining the grip spokes bring, so it's not comparable with your toys at all.

[Tyson @ Oct 15th 2008 2:57PM]

no rims... black people all over the world are disappointed... ohhhh don't protest me bro, I'm black too

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 15th 2008 2:59PM]

Of course you are, Mike.

[xim @ Oct 15th 2008 3:22PM]

great job to Dr. Hong and his students.

[Jim @ Oct 15th 2008 3:34PM]

That's a Major Matt Mason Space Crawler!

[--------- @ Oct 15th 2008 3:43PM]

I guess maybe I don't live in my own little world...

[Monte @ Oct 15th 2008 4:14PM]

Is it just me, or does this kid sound like Bill and/or Ted, with a little bit of Vinnie Barbarino mixed in?