Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Ball Balancing

Note to science fiction concept artists: if you’re not already designing robots and vehicles that cruise around on top of a single ball, do it. The future is already here.



YouTube: "A Robot That Balances on a Ball"
Via Best of YouTube.

4 comments:

Shane White said...

Sometimes science can undermine what looks cool in motion.

Humanoid robots versus what is practical and logical may not look as interesting, threatening, or whatever else they're trying to achieve outside of efficiency and good design.

So where's that happy middle-ground lie? The logical side of my brain agrees with you but the creative side says...less moving parts less interesting motion.

=s=

Don Cox said...

Back in 1950, Frank Hampson designed a gyroscopic jet-propelled Jeep for his hero, Dan Dare, which ran on a single ball just like this robot. The robot must have some kind of gyroscope inside it for balance.

I couldn't find a good picture on the net, but if you have a reprint (or original) of the Eagle comics, it can be seen in the first two issues, from April 1950.

Don Cox said...

PS I found a Jepeet pic here.

Boldheadstudio said...

man, that video left me stunned. think of the possibilities using this technology in every given environment and terrain...wow