From sea to space, this robot is on a roll - Robohub

The article discusses the revival and development of RoboBall, a spherical robot originally designed by Dr. Robert Ambrose in 2003 while at NASA. Unlike traditional wheeled or legged robots, RoboBall’s perfect spherical shape prevents it from flipping over, allowing it to navigate challenging terrains such as lunar craters or sandy beaches. After shelving the project for years to focus on rovers, Ambrose reignited the RoboBall concept upon joining Texas A&M University in 2021, supported by university research initiatives. Graduate students Rishi Jangale and Derek Pravecek have been instrumental in advancing the project, enjoying significant autonomy in directing the robot’s development and testing. RoboBall exists in two main prototypes: RoboBall II, a 2-foot diameter model used for testing power and control, and RoboBall III, a larger 6-foot version designed to carry payloads like sensors and sampling tools for real-world missions. Upcoming field trials aim to demonstrate its ability to transition from water to