Cheetah-like backbone for running.
The cheetatron uses a special backbone like a running
cheetah. The backbone is a spring. When the legs are close together
the spring stores energy. The spring gives back the energy to
push the legs apart. This is a very efficient design.
Gecko feet for climbing. The
explorer uses the sticky feet of geckos. They have very small
hairs called setae that grab on by the forces of molecules. They
do not use suction or glue. This makes the explorer very maneuverable.
Rolling stomatopod module.
The explorer has a module in an attached membrane. When the membrane
is opened the rolling module falls out. The module rolls like
a shrimp-like animal called a stomatopod. It does backward somersaults
on the beaches of Panama.
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