Rolling and legged robots have their own unique benefits and disadvantages. Researchers are now working on hybrid designs to get the best of both words. Take the DSTAR robot for instance: it can change shape to overcome steps up to 15cm, enter through narrow gaps, pass over horizontal gaps, and crawl over challenging terrains. It activates a turtle gait to operate in areas where wheels may struggle. The below video shows this robot in action:
The robot has a set of special mechanisms that enable it to move its center of mass in any direction and choose a gait that adapt to challenging conditions. For instance, DSTAR can roll sideways to overcome wall obstacles up to 20cm high. It can switch between legs and wheels to adapt to dirt and grass.
[HT]
