A bouncy, jumping robot has been developed in California

Scientists have based their work on the body structures of kangaroos, frogs, and other jumping animals.

At the University of California, Santa Barbara, they have designed a robot that can jump 30 meters in height. This record surpasses the performance of any creature on the planet. However, scientists certainly owe their inspiration to wildlife.

Jumping animals in the wild can conserve and release their energy, so their muscle functions inspired the prototypes for the robot's formation. Prior to jumping, motors wrap around the wires hidden inside, resulting in two compressed springy rims. A special latch is activated once the tension reaches a maximum. Then, the energy is released, launching the robot into the air.

When the robot jumps, it reaches a speed of about 100 km/h, and this is only a prototype! However, the robot's potential could be particularly important in the space domain: researchers believe that the bouncy device could be of great assistance for exploring the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies with low gravity.