| It has been proposed the NASA build planetary | | | | out bumps for propulsion.Would this design be |
| exploration robotic swarm beach balls, which | | | | remote controlled, or are you saying that a |
| can bounce along the surface of a planet and | | | | bouncing ball can self-navigate in real time, |
| roll as they collect data. Could something | | | | despite the disorienting effects of rolling |
| like this actually work?One online think tank | | | | and bouncing? It would use net-centric |
| member believes so. But how much power does | | | | swarming techniques and the nodes or motes |
| this "design" take? Approximately 180 Watts | | | | used in such technologies to communicate with |
| to 300 watts ought to do the trick. How much | | | | the other balls and move together. The |
| does the "design" weigh? A Beach Ball times | | | | sensors in side would stay stationary the |
| three plus electronics, Estimate 5-12 Lbs. | | | | ball moves the core does not, but can when it |
| How does this "design" go up small inclines? | | | | bounces. There are tumblers used in aircraft |
| It pushes out the skin on the ball as it | | | | gyros and such to help with that problem. |
| moves. It uses forward momentum plus pushing | | | | |