Engineers at Duke University built a round robot named Argus that doesn’t need to “turn around” to change direction. Instead, it can scoot sideways, diagonally, or straight ahead without doing a big spin first.
Argus has 20 telescoping legs, meaning each leg can slide longer or shorter like a pocket telescope. With so many legs working together, the robot can push, balance, and step in lots of different ways, which helps it handle tricky ground.
It also uses depth-sensing cameras—super-smart eyes that estimate how far away bumps and obstacles are. That information can help Argus roll and clamber over rough spots more smoothly.
Another thoughtful design feature is backup: if one leg breaks, the robot can keep moving because the other legs can share the job. Robots built like this could be useful in bumpy, unpredictable places, where simple wheels might get stuck.
Argus has 20 telescoping legs, meaning each leg can slide longer or shorter like a pocket telescope. With so many legs working together, the robot can push, balance, and step in lots of different ways, which helps it handle tricky ground.
It also uses depth-sensing cameras—super-smart eyes that estimate how far away bumps and obstacles are. That information can help Argus roll and clamber over rough spots more smoothly.
Another thoughtful design feature is backup: if one leg breaks, the robot can keep moving because the other legs can share the job. Robots built like this could be useful in bumpy, unpredictable places, where simple wheels might get stuck.