Spherical Robot, Called Rosphere, May Help Farmers Monitor Soil Conditions

Posted on June 25, 2013

A spherical robot, called Rosphere, may help farmers monitor soil conditions in the near future. The robot was created by researchers in the Cybernetics Research Group at Technical University of Madrid (UPM).

The sphere works like a hamster ball. A hamster ball works because the location of the center of mass changes as the hamster moves. The Rosphere works in a similar manner except instead of a hamster there is a mechanical system that UPM calls a mechatronic system. UPM says the mechatronic system in the Rosphere is a pendulum system with a capacity of two independent motions that enables the Rosphere to conduct straight movements and curvilinear motion.

BBC News reports that the rolling robot is being developed to monitor soil conditions in fields and could end up patrolling fields of crops in the near future.

Here is a video of Rosphere in action on pavement. Take a look:


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