Do the best ideas come from nature? Scientists have made a robot that can hop in the same way as a gazelle. It could soon be exploring remote parts of Mars.
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The bouncing robot heading for Mars
Do the best ideas come from nature? Scientists have made a robot that can hop in the same way as a gazelle. It could soon be exploring remote parts of Mars.
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What's happening?
A new robot will soon explore Mars. It is not like any other robot. It has no wheels. It cannot fly. It has four legs to move. And it gets around by jumpingWhen the first people went to the Moon, they found it easier to hop instead of walk. This is because gravity was lower so they naturally bounced up when taking a step..
The robot has been named SpaceBok. It is based on a kind of animal called a springbokA kind of antelope with brown and white markings that live in southern Africa. The nickname of South Africa's rugby team is the Springboks..
Find out more
They hope it will one day be able to explore Mars. It will be able to move on land that is too tricky for robots with wheels.
The scientists who built Spacebok based their plans on a real animal.
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Do the best ideas come from nature?
Yes! The SpaceBok is just one example. But there are lots more. Trains are inspired by birds. Velcro is based on a kind of plant. Nature is the best inventor!
Not always. We have made engines, boats and skyscrapers. They are not like nature at all. We do not need it all the time!
Keywords
Jumping - When the first people went to the Moon, they found it easier to hop instead of walk. This is because gravity was lower so they naturally bounced up when taking a step.
Springbok - A kind of antelope with brown and white markings that live in southern Africa. The nickname of South Africa's rugby team is the Springboks.
The bouncing robot heading for Mars
Glossary
Jumping - When the first people went to the Moon, they found it easier to hop instead of walk. This is because gravity was lower so they naturally bounced up when taking a step.
Springbok - A kind of antelope with brown and white markings that live in southern Africa. The nickname of South Africa's rugby team is the Springboks.