Tumbleweeds inspire this rolling, resilient robot

HERMES is more energy efficient than a solid sphere. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. A robot inspired by desert tumbleweeds may be the first of a new generation of energy-efficient explorers rolling into future disaster zones. While the Hybrid Energy-efficient Rover Mechanism for Exploration Systems (HERMES) described in the journal recalls the desert ramblers, its creator initially envisioned the idea while watching humans enjoy wind simply for the thrill of it. "The inspiration struck on a windy winter afternoon along the shores of Lake Neuchâtel [in western Switzerland]," said Sanjay Manoharan, a study co-author and researcher at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).