A robot designed to jump higher than the Statue of Liberty is being developed by engineers and could one day be sent into space. Find out how this invention could revolutionize robotics and space travel!
A team of engineers has unveiled a groundbreaking robot capable of leaping an impressive 120 meters into the air. This leap would be high enough to surpass the Statue of Liberty, one of the world's most iconic monuments. world.
The potential of this robot doesn't stop there: it can reach up to 200 meters in height in places with less gravity, such as the Moon.
Why is the jumping robot important?
The main application of this robot would be in rough terrain, such as caves and dense forests, where conventional robots face difficulties.
- Scientists confirm that the rotation of the Earth's core is slowing down and reversing: learn about the possible consequences for the planet's magnetic field and stability
- NASA reveals a new discovery on Mars: a green spot on the floor of the Jezero crater, a potential sign of past life
- Goodbye, iPhone, Samsung and all cell phones? Mark Zuckerberg, owner of Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook, helps create technology that can REPLACE smartphones
- Researchers discover bacteria capable of “eating” plastic, offering a revolutionary alternative to combat environmental pollution
The robot has unique prismatic legs equipped with extendable springs, which maximize efficiency in transforming elastic energy into the energy kinetics during the jump.
According to the researchers, the robot can jump to heights much greater than its own size, reaching more than six times the current record for jumping robots. These advances were published in May 2024 in the scientific journal Mechanism and Machine Theory.
The innovative design of the robot
The 40 cm tall prototype has already demonstrated the efficiency of the project, being able to perform jumps of more than 1,6 meters. Even though jumping robots already exist, the development of this project faces the challenge of reaching greater heights in an energy-efficient manner.
According to John Lo, one of the researchers responsible, the innovative project could revolutionize the performance of jumping robots, especially those powered by springs.
Existing technology in wheeled or legged robots, such as Boston Dynamics' Atlas and Spot models, is not ideal for difficult terrain.
Robots with jumping legs, however, can overcome large obstacles, such as cliffs or steep surfaces.
More efficient jumps
One of the main advantages of the new robot is its energy efficiency. The power amplification mechanism, common in animals such as fleas and grasshoppers, allows elastic energy to be converted into kinetic energy, resulting in higher jumps.
However, a recurring problem with previous designs is that they take off before the spring's stored energy is fully released. This wastes the spring's potential and reduces the machine's effectiveness.
The engineers on the project team opted for a design that combines the best of both worlds: the linear, piston-like prismatic movement of the legs with a lightweight, aerodynamic design that allows for more stable and efficient jumps.
Future challenges and improvements
The team of researchers, led by Ben Parslew from the University of Manchester, had to address several questions about the robot's structure.
One of the main dilemmas was whether it should have kangaroo-like legs or a more piston-like system.
Initial tests showed that a prismatic design, with legs moving in a straight line, created inertia problems, while a rotational design resulted in less effective jumps.
By combining the two designs, the team was able to solve many of these challenges. By shifting the weight to the top of the robot and improving the aerodynamics of the bottom, they achieved greater stability and energy efficiency.
Furthermore, the use of linear prismatic legs ensured that the robot made the most of the energy stored in the springs.
The future of the jumping robot
The next step in the development of this jumping robot will be to improve control of the direction of jumps and reuse the kinetic energy generated when landing.
With this, engineers hope to increase the number of jumps the robot can perform on a single charge of energy, making it even more efficient for extended missions.
Another focus of study is the creation of compact designs, ideal for space travel. The jumping robot could become an indispensable tool for exploring hard-to-reach places both on Earth and on other celestial bodies, such as Mars or the Moon.
In short, this innovation represents a major advance in the field of robotics, opening doors to a new era of exploration both in inhospitable terrestrial terrain and in future space missions.