A team of engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has successfully developed a robot named Salto that can land balanced on a narrow pipe, mimicking the agility of squirrels. The researchers added a claw-like gripper and the ability to stand or crouch to improve Salto’s balance, allowing it to successfully leap from one PVC pipe to another 25 times out of 30. While Salto is not yet ready to join Cirque du Soleil, the team envisions future bots that could aid in construction, environmental monitoring, and other tasks.
Forecast for 6 months: Expect to see advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence as researchers build upon Salto’s technology, leading to more agile and adaptable robots that can navigate complex environments.
Forecast for 1 year: Within the next year, we can anticipate the development of robots that can perform tasks such as pipe inspection and environmental monitoring, leveraging Salto’s balance and agility capabilities.
Forecast for 5 years: In the next five years, robots like Salto could become a common sight in industries such as construction, where they can aid in tasks like pipe installation and maintenance, reducing the risk of accidents and improving efficiency.
Forecast for 10 years: By the end of the decade, we can expect to see the widespread adoption of robots like Salto in various industries, leading to significant improvements in productivity, safety, and environmental sustainability.
