NASA unveils rock-climbing Axel Rover, slashes dirt without getting dizzy

NASA's latest toy is an oversized robotic yo-yo dubbed the Axel Rover. Developed in collaboration with Caltech, it's designed to raise and lower itself over any environment with a motorized lever that can be used for tethering as well as scooping up materials for scientific research and maneuvering its two cameras. Two more motors run each of its wheels, which should ensure it's more than equipped to traverse anything from the Garden of Eden to otherworldly terrain right next door to Hell. Check out the rover doing its thing in the video after the break

[Via Network World]

[Comp1demon Posted Feb 5th 2009 7:14PM]

Welcome to the Jungle!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 5th 2009 7:17PM]

Thats your best first comment?

[Comp1demon Posted Feb 5th 2009 7:51PM]

well it is Axel Rove(r)

[rchives Posted Feb 5th 2009 8:09PM]

Who the hell is Alex Rove?

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 5th 2009 11:28PM]

i don't know

[Augmented Insanity Posted Feb 6th 2009 1:32PM]

DON'T KNOW?

You make me sick.

[magallanes Posted Feb 5th 2009 7:24PM]

How much money was spend on it?.

[Lando Calrissian Posted Feb 5th 2009 7:24PM]

Lets just say that they could've bought a lot of acetone and fireworks to play with...

[pekingkuck Posted Feb 5th 2009 7:26PM]

that is nothing like a yo-yo

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 5th 2009 7:27PM]

Ok, this is what happens when you cut NASA's budget... they go to a junk yard and start constructing things and call them exploration rovers.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 5th 2009 7:31PM]

NASA must be running out of materials, that looks like the rim from a 20in BMX bike...oh thank goodness for technology

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 6th 2009 5:28PM]

You would be surprised on how simple, low-tech solutions may work better than complex and bloated designs. Of course, this is a prototype.

[NeoJew Posted Feb 6th 2009 1:15AM]

Would you prefer we spend $20,000,000 for a fancier wheel? Maybe with some spinners?

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 5th 2009 7:33PM]

Wow, NASA must be huge Guns and Roses fans!

[kaimonkey Posted Feb 5th 2009 9:08PM]

i say we should drill a whole to the core of the moon plant a few nuke
and then put EVERY SINGLE ANNOYING ASS CHUCKLEFUCKING fanboy on the moon and lit the mofo up
and THEN we see what happens :)

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 5th 2009 11:13PM]

@KAIKAI

oh! found your anger pills. :)

[Mushrooshi Posted Feb 5th 2009 11:40PM]

Heh, more like Overkill

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtxabAc2VD0&feature=related

Damn, I love robot combat.

[dhaval Posted Feb 6th 2009 12:09AM]

is that a modified segway???

[ShankNutboy Posted Feb 6th 2009 10:14AM]

Anyone else getting a strong BattleBots vibe off that thing?