DailyDirt: Wall-Climbing Robots (aka Toys)

Too Much Free Time

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Thu, Jan 7th 2016 5:00pm — Michael Ho

Toys have really become much more advanced than the yo-yos and etch-a-sketches of the past. Sure, kids will always like to play with the big cardboard boxes instead of the toys that came in them, but older kids have amazing remote-controlled drones and paper planes (that they might need to register with the FAA someday). If you've been looking for some cool RC cars that can climb walls and drive on the ceiling, there are a bunch of toys to choose from.

Disney Research has a wall-climbing robot car called the VertiGo. This looks like a cool prototype for a toy -- and maybe someday there will be a Star Wars droid that rolls on ceilings and walls a bit better than BB-8 can. [url]
If a small robot car can drive around on the ceiling and walls, it's usually done with vacuum suction or propellers to get the tiny vehicle to defy gravity. Researchers have a solution that doesn't sound like a tiny vacuum cleaner or helicopter -- using gecko-like materials that are electrically activated. Electroadhesion probably won't be available on kids' toys in the near future, but it would be a much better toy for kids to play with quietly. [url]
Takara Tomy already makes a remote-controlled car with tiny helicopter propellers that can fly... and maneuver on water. Okay, it probably doesn't do too well on ceilings or walls, but it looks cooler than some other wall/ceiling-driving RC toy cars. [url]

If you've been thinking about learning how to code, take a look at our Daily Deals for a collection of online courses to help you program and/or master some professional skills.

Filed Under: bb-8, drones, gecko, materials, prototype, rc cars, robots, toys, vertigo
Companies: disney research, takara tomy

5 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Anonymous Coward, 7 Jan 2016 @ 5:06pm

does anyone want a real car to climb walls?
F1 racecars can produce enough downforce to drive up a vertical wall... and maybe even a ceiling.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 7 Jan 2016 @ 7:45pm
  
  Re: does anyone want a real car to climb walls?
  The only problem is that there's one tricky corner that doesn't have a very useful run-off area.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- nasch (profile), 8 Jan 2016 @ 10:23am
  
  Re: does anyone want a real car to climb walls?
  F1 racecars can produce enough downforce to drive up a vertical wall... and maybe even a ceiling.
  
  They have to go pretty fast to do that though.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Andromeda, 7 Jan 2016 @ 8:23pm

Any Risk?
Any chances of risks to children in case the toys functioning while climbing and fall?
Also,how do you think it will affect children's mental development?

Regards,
Andromeda
http://www.h5v.net/cheap-computer-desk-4/
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- nasch (profile), 8 Jan 2016 @ 10:24am
  
  Re: Any Risk?
  Any chances of risks to children in case the toys functioning while climbing and fall?
  
  Yes, there is a chance of injury, just like with any toy.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]