Video and picture via University of Maryland
From the collaboration between the University of Maryland and the Army Research Laboratory comes the micro jumping robot. Each type at a length of 4mm, can store enough kinetic energy to jump several times its own size.
One uses the conversion of a chemical, sodium perchlorate oxidizer, to gas that is embedded in its porous silicon body, where a small explosion is created when electric current passes through the compound. This yields a 20x jump height.
Another type used a rubber spring plunger. The spring is actuated manually by an operator, and when released can jump over eighty times its height. The researchers claim that onboard micro-motors will perform this action in the future.
The next step for the team is to develop bots that can perform multiple jumps where the direction can also be controlled. In particular, the chemical reaction bot could conceivably perform a jump, or rocket pulse, in mid air. The researchers boast that is some 65 meters, or over 16,000 times the size of the bot. Storing enough of the chemical to perform such a feat may change its weight, but on paper, it sounds good.
Justification for the research comes from the need to produce cheap robots for use in surveillance and monitoring. I think the real challenge is still jumping with the increased weight from a camera and communication device and other necessary components.
Eavesdropper
