This Self-Balancing Drone Can Walk on Tightropes

LEONARDO the robot (Short for LEgs ONboARD drOne) uses human-like legs and drone propellors to balance on tightropes, fly over obstacles and even skateboard, and researchers say it could be the future of robotics.

0:00 LEgs ONboARD drOne Design
0:53 Why build a hybrid robot?
1:36 Walking vs. flying
2:15 Balance put to the test
3:06 Poking the robot with a stick!
3:32 Ways to use LEONARDO
3:53 The future of hybrid robots like LEO

Claire Reilly on Twitter: @reillystyley

[lisaboban]

I personally don't care if the robot can take on Tony Hawk. But I'd love to see how it can assist in search and rescue or other dangerous circumstances.

[dbsirius]

A skateboarding terminator....how will we ever tell the difference.

[mole]

Coolest thing I’ve seen all week. The pigeon reference they’ve used in the making of LEO is really smart. Props.

[speedywiz]

3:16 is also my favourite, it’s so funny! 😆

[viixby]

Boston Dynamics is probably about to have a robot say "hold my beer" then do a kickflip or something, then fly away.

[milou]

I'm pretty sure that’s a Galactic Empire spy droid.

[KBparsi]

"The Duh-Vinci Code" is the fifth episode of Futurama's sixth season. This thing looks so much like The Machina Magnifica lol.

[Asperaetastra]

What a genius idea!
Reminds me of a PC game or cinematic TV series. Where such an idea was developed.

Thanks for showing it to us, CNET! ;)

[StrikeFreedom]

I'm getting a Macross VF type of vibe here for some reason 😅🤣

[trustenbaker]

OMG I've been looking for a self balancing skateboard that can board better than I can! Thank GOD!

[fredestrada]

Instead of feet it should have claws so it can retrieve or move things

[RIP....]

Your ears remind me of the dinosaur from last jurassic park movie😅😅

[hugh_jasso]

My *Robocraft* vehicle brought to life!!

[quokkam]

So you're telling me, Clank will soon be a real thing?? 😮
(Ratchet & Clank)

[Tenamesan]

Give it arms to help with the balance.

[loadapish]

Yea i think they could have bigger versions of these in the future with people in them

[FinancialShinanigan]

Why walk though, cool sure but I'd think having wheels would be more efficient

[poohbear]

Do you want Terminators? Because THAT’S how you get Terminators !

[DaygoG]

This is the tadpole of Mech war robots.

[tlims]

😱😱😱No. Imagine a group of them, deployed as police ??! set them on fire