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How many legs does this creepy-crawly robot have?

Answer: 32!

Developed by a research team from Keio University in Japan and the University of Tokyo, Mochibot is a spherical robot that looks (and moves) a lot like a sea urchin. It’s not at all disconcerting to watch …



The legs are made of three parts that condense and expand like telescopes, allowing the robot to essentially roll around by pushing itself. They have a maximum length of 1.6 feet and a minimum of about half that. And since there are so many legs (so very many), Mochibot could potentially be able to continue moving after losing a few.

The next step is to test the robot on varied and challenging terrain. Its legs can be equipped with sensors, cameras or sampling devices, and the center can carry a small payload. If it proves successful, the potential applications for a robot like Mochibot could be endless.

Kate is a senior copy editor in Northern California. She holds a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in professional writing from the University of California, Davis.