Izhevsk: Scientists at Russian Izhevsk State Technical University have created the first prototype of a sphere robot, which uses a combined principle for movement. The device is made for intelligence purposes and can move on almost any surface, including water. It is a compact drone equipped with a camera.
According to Emirates News Agency, the robot can be controlled like a drone, or it can be programmed to perform a task on its own. The developers experimented with different ways to set the ball in motion, identified the most effective ones, and combined them into one hybrid device.
Yuri Karavaev, professor of the Department of Mechatronic Systems at Izhevsk State Technical University, explained that the design of the combined spherical robot is straightforward and easy to control. Its technical characteristics can be adjusted based on specific tasks, with modifications possible for remote control distance, maneuverability, size, weight, and degree of autonomy. The payload is housed inside the sphere, utilizing its mass for propulsion. The prototype being tested has a mass of 200-300 grams, a diameter of 12 cm, and can carry equipment of similar weight, moving at speeds up to 1 meter per second.