Magnetic steel ball robot that can also climb walls with collaborative play

FreeBOT is a robot that can climb in collaboration with each other using magnetism developed by a research team at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The idea of incorporating multiple robots with simple functions is not difficult, but it is difficult to properly connect the robots with these functions unless the shape of the part that combines them is well designed. This robot seems to be a spherical robot that solved this problem.

Freebots have a sphere shell made of iron and have built-in magnets that can attract other freebots and act against them. You can also climb steel walls while roaming freely through the internal power wheels.

If you want to connect the two freebots to each other, you just need to be in a position where the inner magnets pull each other. Because they stick to each other through magnetism. In addition, when the two sides are separated in this state, the inner electric wheel moves so that the magnets do not meet each other. Using this motion, it is possible to overcome a specific obstacle by making two or more freebots line up and stick together in a dumpling shape. However, for this purpose, it is currently operated by remote control, but the research team plans to develop a moving part in which a group of robots autonomously cooperate with each other. Related information can be found here .