Researchers at MIT have developed a new robot that can jump using springy metal sticks that protrude from the robot's side.

The robot is in the form of a cube, with metal protrusions that look similar to little metal tongues, enabling the cube to bounce, roll and so on.

Basically, the robot uses its tongue to lick itself in a particular direction.

While it looks like magic, it isn't. Inside the robot are two small motorized rotors, each of which are connected to an end of four of the flattened loops of springy steel. When these rotors are activated, the little metal sticks are pulled through rectangular openings into a cavity inside of the robot, which compresses them. As the rotors continue to turn, the metal sticks are pulled all the way around the cavity, back to the rectangular openings, at which point they spring out of the openings and cause the cube to jump.

The robot will continue to jump around as long as the rotors are on, and there is directional control available for the robot.

The researchers actually tested two different designs for the robot, one of them hard and the other soft. Each of the cubes measured seven centimeters (2.75 inches) on each side and had a weight of 200 grams. The performance of the robot was actually identical in both designs, with the robot able to jump 20 centimeters in the air. Not only that, but the cubes are completely self-contained and have integrated controllers, sensors, batteries and more, all within the cube.

All this is great, but what could the cube actually be used for? Well, researchers think that it could be mounted with things like small cameras, making it great for exploration tasks. It could fit in small spaces where humans otherwise couldn't fit.

Check out the video below to see how the robot works.

Via: Spectrum