The Gyrosphere spherical robot is a unique prototype developed by Greg Schroll, a graduate student at Colorado State. The Gyrosphere uses gyroscopes instead of a movable pendular mass; this gives the Gyrosphere extra power. For climbing out of holes, for instance.
(Gyrosphere robot video)
Greg has been named one of Popular Science’s 10 Most Brilliant Innovators of 2009; he also developed air cannon, as seen in this somewhat longer commercial video.
(Gyrosphere robot video)
Science fiction fans enjoy the occasional spherical robot, like the Rovers from the 1960's series The Prisoner; I think Rovers will make a comeback in a big way in the Prisoner remake this fall.
Tactile Skin Supplier Map
'What strange sensitivity! What an amazing development of science was manifested in every move and act and word of this Robot!' - Ray Cummings, 1931.
DIY Robot Scorpion Crushes It
'...it raised its front end off the ground and waved its antennae at them, then raised one armoured claw as if to snip them out of the sky.' - Neal Asher, 2008.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!)
is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for
the Invention Category that interests
you, the Glossary, the Invention
Timeline, or see what's New.
Tactile Skin Supplier Map
'What strange sensitivity! What an amazing development of science was manifested in every move and act and word of this Robot!'
Orb Nomad Zero-Emission Electric Aircraft
'That explains how it was so easy for me to remain motionless in midair or to perch on a flagpole in imitation of a giant bird, even in the windy city of Chicago.'
DIY Robot Scorpion Crushes It
'...it raised its front end off the ground and waved its antennae at them, then raised one armoured claw as if to snip them out of the sky.'