The cube that break dances - VIDEO

A small cube that can balance on its edges and rotate on its corners, as well as walk along, has been created by Swiss engineers.Cubli measures just 15cm in height and uses reaction wheels that rotate at high angular velocities to enable it to jump up and travel in a given direction.While the clever cube is currently a prototype, some researchers hope to use its method of moving along for planetary exploration vehicles and even self-assembling robots.Cubli, which has been invented by engineers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, consists of three reaction wheels, each attached to a brushless DC motor, plus movement sensors, an embedded processor and battery.The sensors are used to estimate the tilt of the cube and provide the angular velocity - the angular speed at which an object is rotating along with the direction in which it is rotating - of the reaction wheels, which are mounted on three faces of the cube.The reaction wheels can brake suddenly to cause the Cubli to jump up from its ‘resting position’ onto one of its edges without external support, as it transfers momentum from the wheel’s to the cube’s body.Balancing on its corner is achieved by two ‘jump up’ manoeuvres.The first one raises the Cubli from one of its faces so that it can balance on its edge, while the second one raises it from the edge to one of its corners.Cubli can detect disturbances to adjust its position while balancing on its corner, and also rotate on the spot.The miniature mechanical device is able to use a ‘controlled fall’ to travel in a certain direction and when it combines its jumping, balancing and falling moves, it can ‘walk’ across a surface, the scientists said.While the technology could be used in future space explorer vehicles and self-assembling robots, the ‘cool little cube’ was simply designed to ‘jump up, balance and walk,’ its creators said.(dailymail.co.uk)ANN.Az