PREVIEW

Spherical Roboball Could Tackle Moon's Toughest Terrain – And Help With Disaster Rescue On Earth. A futuristic spherical robot is being built to conquer the Moon's harshest terrain — and maybe save lives on Earth. The project, called RoboBall, is led by Dr. Robert Ambrose at Texas A&M, originally conceived at NASA in 2003. A perfect sphere with no top or bottom, RoboBall goes where wheels and legs can't. Prototypes include a 2-foot test model and a giant 6-foot version that can carry sensors and tools. Powered by a swinging pendulum inside, it rolls in any direction, never tips over, and can adjust traction by inflating or deflating. Trials have seen RoboBall hit 20 mph across grass, sand — even water — and next it will be tested rolling from sea to shore in Texas. Beyond space, RoboBall could aid disaster zones, mapping floods and finding survivors.