You may remember Ballbot from last year, an omnidirectional balancing robot straight out of science fiction.
It appears to be a popular idea. Take a look at these robots that are able to balance on a single ball, using it for locomotion. The first two appear to be DIY projects, while the third seems to have some additional financial backing.
This next robot balances on a ball using LEGO Mindstorms NXT computing power.
Here's another robot able to balance on a rigid ball with sufficient control to balance a beaker of water on its head.
And here's Ballbot, from Carnegie Mellon (read more about Ballbot).
Thanks to an anonymous reader who suggested this idea.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 3/30/2010)
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.
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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.'