Cube-Shaped Hedgehog Robot to Explore Comets

Sep-07-15 Designed to help explore low-gravity comets and asteroids, the cube-shaped Hedgehog robot propels itself with hopping and escapes sinkholes with tornado-like maneuvers.

The result of a collaboration between NASA’s JPL, Stanford University and MIT, the Hedgehog bot consists of a cube shape outfitted with spikes that protect its body and function as the “feet” when the robot is moving about. Internal flywheels would spin and brake to propel the cube, and it could even perform a “tornado maneuver” that will launch it into the air and allow it escape a hole or other obstacle. Since it will be operating in low gravity, the cube has no right-side-up orientation, and its shape makes it easier to pack onto a spaceship.

More Info about this Invention:

[GIZMAG.COM]
[JPL.NASA.GOV]

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