If you thought people look funny running from crawling or large-eyed jumping robots, wait till you see the fury that is… a small, somewhat flat, not-all-that-scary automoton that launches itself atop buildings and large rock structures.
SandFlea Jumping Robot
In the latest bit of robot technology to be inspired by animal life, the SandFlea uses compressed gas to launch itself up to 30 feet through the air. Unlike the typical flea, it weighs 11 pounds and can only jump 25 times per charge (Fleas laughing hysterically in the background.) The reconnaissance robot is funded by the Army’s Rapid Equipping Force and create by Boston Dynamics, the same company that brought you the larger, four-legged BigDog robot. It along with another leg-flinging terrain bot called the RHex will be sent for field testing in Afghanistan where an increasing number of robots are finding a home.
The Smack
I find it interesting that these robots are being used for reconnaissance instead of product research and design. When was the last time you needed to jump on top of a roof to measure the hole you put in it when ‘accidently’ testing ammonium nitrate in your bathroom? It could be that robots like these could be equipped with small printers and programmed to launch themselves up an increasingly expanding structure… who am I kidding, let’s just call it what it is, a space bridge to the moon. Jumping robots, 3D printing… BOOM, space bridge.
Source: Boston Dynamics
