This video neatly demonstrates the utility of a jumping robot. EPFL’s jumper is simple, small, and cheap, but it’s able to rapidly negotiate an obstacle course that would be otherwise impassible by anything except a flying robot.

The robot plus its self-righting roll cage weighs 14 grams and measures 18 centimeters in diameter. It can jump over 60 centimeters high, which at over four times its own height, is definitely respectable. To steer, the jumping part of the robot is actually able to rotate around inside its roll cage to launch in any direction. Simple but effective.

I remember back in early 2008 when we first posted about this robot, and I wrote:

“Yes, it’s not exactly controllable. And yes, it doesn’t exactly land right-side up. But these are minor quibbles, and they’re being worked on.”

Quibbles solved. Nice job, EPFL. Now just make it fly…

[ EPFL ]