PITTSBURGH-Carnegie Mellon University researchers have developed a new type of mobile robot that balances on a single urethane-coated metal sphere instead of legs or wheels.
The 95-pound "Ballbot," as it is called, is a self-contained, battery-operated robot that balances dynamically on the sphere and is about the height and width of a person. Because of its long, thin shape and ability to maneuver in tight spaces, it has the potential to function better than other types of robots in environments with people.