Sure, it can’t compete with Ameca, but SKOOTR, developed by researchers at the University of Michigan, is still an omni-oriented robot that can skate around with ease. Design wise, it features a centrally-located flankd on three sides by three robotic legs, with each of them having two joints capable of flexing and extending.
Thanks to the location of the central sphere and multiple legs, SKOOTR is extremely stable, so much so that it’s basically impossible to flip it over while operating. Plus, by lifting its sphere up with its legs, the robot can overcome obstacles that would be difficult for other rolling robots, all the while climbing stairs.
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We use a servo to switch between a passively rolling caster or a grippy rubber foot. The rubber foot provides friction so that it can use a leg to push against the ground, while the rolling caster allows other legs to maintain their position while rolling along. The central sphere can easily pop out and be replaced for different purposes,” said Talia Y. Moore, co-author of the paper.
