Spherical Tensegrity Robots: NASA's Disaster Response Solution
Squishy Robotics, a company funded by NASA, has developed impact-resistant, customizable robots for public safety, military, and industrial uses. The robots use the principle of tensegrity, which distributes impact across their skeletal structure, making them ideal for rough terrain or hazardous environments. They can be customized with sensors, capable of providing crucial data to first responders assessing dangers such as toxic gas leaks or helping in wildfire detection. The robots were originally designed for space exploration, but their terrestrial benefits have been realized, and they are now being used for disaster response and other applications on Earth.