The researchers made a 32-legged robot that moves like an amoeba

In context: Companies like Boston Dynamics brought us robots with two or four legs. NASA has even worked on a "tensegrity" design called the "Super Ball Bot" that does not have a leg but moves by overturning.

At present, robotics engineers from the University of Tokyo and Keio University in Japan have developed a 32-foot robot called "Mochibot". The bot has a spherical shape but actually rests on a rhombic-triacontahedron frame.

The 32 feet of Mochibot do not work with joints like other robots, notes IEEE Spectrum. Instead, the legs are telescopic linear actuators that allow the bot to deform its shape to move as an amoeba moves. This movement method allows the bot to leave in any direction without turning. It simply shortens the legs in the direction needed to travel and lengthens the legs on the opposite side. To stop it, simply flatten its bottom parallel to the ground.

Mochibot weighs 10 kg and measures about one meter in diameter in maximum extension and about half a meter contracted. However, most of the time, his legs will be between full extension and total contraction.

Scientists say the robot could be used for extraterrestrial exploration and had advantages over NASA's tensegrity design.

On the one hand, the Super Ball Bot moving method is very complex and requires sophisticated machine learning algorithms to move even in the simplest paths. Mochibot can move in any direction with simple programming or even with an operator mapping a route.

In addition, if one leg fails, there are 31 others to take over. It would take the catastrophic loss of several limbs to paralyze Mochibot. On the contrary, if even an actuator or an elastic cable fails on Super Ball, it can not go anywhere before being repaired.

Finally, Mochibot is ideal for unstable terrain such as sand or unstable rocks. If the floor gives way, it can simply lengthen or contract its legs as needed to remain stable. Traction is not a problem as it would be the case for more traditional forms of locomotion.

Unfortunately, Mochibot is moving very slowly, as you can see in the video above. However, it is important to note that the robot is still in its infancy. The first phase was funded by a grant from NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts program and the team has already received a second grant for Phase II.

During Phase II, the researchers plan to assess terrain performance on rough terrain and question its ability to "roll" upstream, on rocks and through ditches.