Swiss Students are Testing Spacebok, a Walking & Jumping Robot with Legs

Students from ETH Zurich and ZHAW Zurich have been working on a robot with legs that can walk but is really designed to jump. In many ways, even through its name, the Spacebok is biomimetic, meaning it takes cues from biological organisms. In the case of the Spacebok, it takes its name and design inspiration from antelope.

The Spacebok is intended to be a rover for Mars, at least in concept. The idea for Spacebok is that it will not get stuck like a wheeled rover would. With the jumping ability, at least a meter here on Earth, the Spacebok could clear even higher obstacles and even go up and over ones that wheeled rovers would have to go around or could not pass at all. The Spacebok project is currently being tested in the European Space Agency's sandbox designed to mimic that environment.

The project website is located here. The ESA Planetary Robotics Lab page is here.