Bouncing robot spy

Bounces up to 25 feet per jump. [Link]

During normal travel, an electric motor powers the wheels. But when needed, the robot can engage a hopping mechanism and leap over 25 feet in the air to clear an obstacle (as the video posted by Sharon demonstrated earlier this week) . It may look strange, but its unique capability might give the Hopper an important role in urban warfare.
Ground robots have always had problems with curbs, stairs and other obstacles that humans cross with ease. One solution is to build a bipedal robot the size of a human, but it’s much harder for small robots. Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have been working on hopping robots which, much like grasshoppers or fleas, can leap over obstacles several times taller than themselves. Work started as far back as 1997. But recent advances have finally made it a practical proposition.
According to Mark Peterson of Darpa, the Pentagon’s far-out research arm, the three important developments have been the hybrid rolling/hopping design, miniaturization, and high-precision valves. “With these improved valving technologies, researchers are now able to precisely meter fluid fuels and oxidizers into the piston systems, and accurately provide the needed energy to hop the vehicle to an exact spot,” he told Danger Room.
The hopping mechanism works like an explosive pogo stick. It uses methyl acetylene-propadiene gas as fuel and nitrous oxide as an oxidizer, igniting the combination with a glow plug. Accuracy is the key here: The Hopper is capable of negotiating cluttered environments and can go up stairwells. It can even pop through (open) windows.