Cars can drive in forward and backwards. This robot can drive sideways, while sitting on top of a round ball. The concept of a “ball drive” to move a vehicle has been explored many times due to the advantages of being able to drive in any direction at “full speed” and being able to change direction almost instantaneously. However, there are drawbacks, one of the most notable being the added complexity of 3 wheels/motors (or more) driving a single ball. Furthermore, these kinds of robots dont have very much traction, so unlike your car, they wont be able to accelerate quickly from a stop sign or climb a steep hill. Regardless, the circus act is the result of an impressive use of sensors.
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