“NASA’s spherical robot reborn in Texas”
In 2003, NASA shelved a project that seemed straight out of science fiction: a robot capable of moving like a ball and never tipping over. Two decades later, Robert Ambrose, one of the agency’s most creative engineers, revived the idea. Thus was born RoboBall, a sphere that could shape the future of exploration… and also of rescue on our planet.
The concept was as simple as it was brilliant: a perfect sphere that could roll over any terrain. Ambrose designed it while working on other iconic projects like Robonaut 2 or the Robo-Glove, but the idea was forgotten. Twenty years later, Ambrose revisited the concept with his students who managed to build a real spherical robot that moves as if gravity is always in its favor.
At first glance, RoboBall seems like magic. Its shell is made of materials similar to those of an airbag, giving it strength and flexibility. But the key is inside: a pendulum connected to motors generates the necessary impulse to roll in any direction. The sphere can inflate or deflate to adapt to different terrains, easily surpassing grass, sand, gravel, and even water, reaching speeds of up to 32 km/h without ever tipping over.
The team now has two prototypes. RoboBall II, 61 cm in diameter, is used to adjust algorithms and test subsystems. RoboBall III, 183 cm in diameter, aims for more ambitious uses: transporting sensors, cameras, and tools. However, working with such a large spherical machine is not easy, requiring dismantling everything for repairs.
The potential applications range from exploring impossible slopes in lunar craters to aiding in natural disasters. RoboBall could navigate areas where traditional rovers with wheels would struggle, and even assist in post-disaster scenarios, mapping flooded areas, locating survivors, and sending data without risking human lives. The once-forgotten RoboBall is now rolling towards a future where the impossible suddenly seems very close.
