This Cute Robot Can Climb Stairs And Can Survive In All Kinds Of Terrain

This Ascento Pro can also go at speeds of up to 7.5 miles per hour. (photo: Ascento Robotics doc)

JAKARTA - Robots that can dance, inject vaccines, and do human work seem commonplace. Now a company in Switzerland created a robot that can climb stairs.

Not only that, but the robot dubbed Ascento Pro can also go at speeds of up to 7.5 miles per hour. This robotic capability is the idea of a spin-off company Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH Zürich). However, it was produced by Ascento Robotics based on the design of their previous work, Ascento 2.

The Ascento Pro, which looks like a baby on wheels similar to the AT-ST Walker from the Star Wars films, can carry out inspections, surveillance, and last-mile package deliveries.

Even so, it is not known for sure whether the robot will be sold commercially. Currently, Ascento Robotics is developing a modular, self-balancing mobile robot that combines the versatility of legs and wheel speed.

Further compiled from the Daily Mail, Thursday, December 16, the core design of this small robot has larger wheels than its predecessor, which is only capable of reaching 5 miles per hour to the Pro's 7.5 miles per hour. Ascento Pro's versatility allows it to stand on its own from various positions if it falls or is pushed, and it can withstand a wide variety of terrain.

Ascento Pro can also flex his legs to jump over obstacles in the path. In addition, Ascento Pro can jump repeatedly even allowing the robot to continue climbing stairs.

Acentro Pro is different from the previous version Ascento 2, the developers added to the basic design by incorporating a fully autonomous driving mode supported by a combination of an onboard camera, lighting, and LiDAR sensing.

In fact, the Ascento Pro is also able to navigate back to its charging station, which is connected to a port on the underside of the robot's main body. This robot can last eight hours per single charge.

Of course, this is a significant improvement over the Ascento 2's 1.5 hours run time. The used battery in Ascento Pro can be easily replaced with a fully charged battery to get it running again.

The advantages of the Ascento Pro don't stop there, it can also sit gently to conserve power while waiting for further instructions from the operator.

Ascento Pro to Help Human Work

With its various features and advantages, the future Ascento Pro will be able to deliver the last mile, which is the movement of goods from large-scale transportation centers to recipients at certain destinations.

"Thanks to its efficiency, Ascento can carry goods for several kilometers and thanks to its ladder-climbing technology also to locations where conventional robots cannot go", say the developers.

"It can carry objects on it without sacrificing its contents due to its stability and sturdiness. Ascento is much faster than other platforms, which makes it an ideal candidate for efficient long-distance delivery."

The developers added that it is likely that Ascento Pro could also assist in food delivery, mail delivery, and transport of laboratory samples for hospitals.