Péter Fankhauser: Meet Rezero, the dancing ballbot

www.ted.com Onstage at TEDGlobal, Péter Fankhauser demonstrates Rezero, a robot that balances on a ball. Designed and built by a group of engineering students, Rezero is the first ballbot made to move quickly and gracefully -- and even dance.
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at www.ted.com/tra....

[@1ucasvb]

For those interested, the song/music when the robot is dancing is "Surrender" by Jami Sieber.

[@zero00tolerance]

This is way better than that segway device...

[@luigisopa]

I want to have a tiny version of this to put it on my desk! :-D

[@thatciggaweed]

what would happen if it goes through a puddle? would the wheels controlling the ball lose traction and would it be able to compensate for it?

[@StopFear]

I guess this can work well for balancing and not tipping over compared to something tall on multiple wheels. Especially if the ball is made larger and rougher so that even in position when electronics are on the side it could lift it up.

[@Volound]

id like to see this thing traversing the bumpy surface of mars.

[@Razzfazz87]

Basing motion on instability also has the side effect that everything is quite slow as you have to wait for the tilt etc. Each time you do something there is a relatively large ramp up time compared with other methods of translation and rotation.

[@NickCombs]

Definitely the first robot I've seen that would fit into most everyday situations with humans. I can't wai until they start showing up in different places!

[@InOrlando]

So awesome! Can't wait till it starts jumping around!

@SalixAlba256 VioceOfAleppo pointed it out correctly. The control is based on a mathematical model of the mechanical system and forms a explicit feedback law from the sensors to the motors.

@dumbnetworks Rezero knows from which disturbances it can recover. When a that threshold is reached it turns of the motors in order not to hurt anybody. Then it falls on to the ring that's around the system and absorbs the shock while protecting the mechanics and electronics. For now, Rezero has to be placed manually on the ball before turning it on.

[@chhabrakadabra]

for those people wondering why the giant ball exists even though it only makes the robot unstable, the inherent instability is the reason why the robot is so agile. it has a much lower response time.

[@DmNetworks]

@fankipete ok, I wasn't clear enough, what if falls and, more important how does it get up on the ball?

[@JohnnyKidder]

I will would like 3 of these to serve drinks at my next party

[@SalixAlba256]

Curious as to the algorithm they use to restore balance. Is it a explicit algorithm or some kind of neural net or adaptive system?

[@TheSpeshulShark]

@LanceFlugerman What advantage would that have over wheels?

[@yudy92]

This could also be a moving shelf. you can have your lets say remote, phone, etc etc and just call it "Rezero" and it detects where you are with a heat sensor so that way you wont have to look for things remembering you usually leave it on rezero. also, it can be used as an object transportation device. damn, i can think of so many uses for this.

@dumbnetworks You are right, an automatic stand up mechanism would be desirable in the future. Rezero is our first prototype and a lot has to be improved and added to make to a safe product.

[@ajaykumarkohli007]

What is the point?

[@Crazee108]

@kezman2003 They meant unstable because it's CONSTANTLY in motion, not that it will fall over... it can right itself up. So yes, it can certainly carry around those IV bags to follow people in hospital settings... not medical tools or whatever though

@MrIntelligenius Most students of our team are mechanical engineers and we worked together with 2 electrical engineers. You can find all the team members on our website about the project Rezero.

[@muzzleray]

wish some folks would put there heads together and design a powered wheel chair that's comfortable and cheap, and is everything that someone with those needs is met

[@BobRJBurkhart]

Great background on this rapidly evolving technology. Viewed after seeing updated Alden version of this prototype!

[@nightwake]

Walking out on stage with a robot = Instant thumbs up before even watching.

[@shrodingersman]

finally a robot with some balls !

[@GustavNilsson]

I love TED videos, but come on, why are they only 480p?

[@geza96]

Flat clean surface only. Would not do well at my house full of toys. And cables and pets. Well done guys.

[@chrss1000]

its really good that they're able to construct something like this but they need to make it look more stable...it just looks like a bunch of wires wrapped around a metal stand(with the exception of the bottom half)...but good work any ways

[@omegavalerius]

@LanceFlugerman The surface needs to be smooth on the ball. It wouldn't make a very good terrain vehichle.

[@SalixAlba256]

@VoiceOfAleppo Back when i was looking at AI most of the NN problems tackled seemed to be linear relationships. It always seemed to be a bit more interesting to try and develop a model of something which was non-linear. Balancing seems like a good example of such a project and it would be fun to see what sort of system would be needed to be able to learn how to balance.

[@Nineteen1900Hundred]

@0rnJ Yeah, have you seen "I, Robot" ?

[@kentrel2]

Watching it dance with the music turned off is like watching a desperate cry for help

[@markrozario]

@Crazee108 are you serious? Even the designers started the talk by saying it's an UNSTABLE robot, and you agree with the idea of it carrying around medical equipment??

[@athusiva1]

If anyone knows, what's that song its dancing to? Appreciate it. :)

[@DmNetworks]

@fankipete go for it dude, and congrats for a great start.

[@Stereozucker]

@PaladinPK it sadly would take alot of the stability of the cars steering mechanics. the engines would have to be very very strong at high speed to redirect the cars direction. :( would be epic tough :)

@VoiceOfAleppo Cool, thank you. We are glad you like Rezero.

@dumbnetworks The ring around the robot and the shock absorbers on top protect the robot in case of a crash.

[@ChristianMay21]

The practical applications do not require Rezero to climb stairs.

[@janetathensbay]

Gather an entire 'troupe', dress with creative costumes...a ball ballet.

[@ehcmier]

Make a giant ball point pen to write huge cursive letters across large surfaces to be read from low-flying aircraft.

[@StopFear]

Some of you who are from UK may be familiar with this type of robot from ZX Spectrum games, like Quazatron where robot Klepto was sent to kill bad robots on planet Quazatron. (check KZbin for Quazatron Speccy)

[@2nd3rd1st]

Instant thought? Could follow me around with a tray holding beer and nachos!

[@Eliphas_Leary]

Hey, in the TV-show Caprica some of those bots got shot by the first Cylon. But I guess this little Rezero fellow would be a bit too expensive for target practice...

[@Th3Sh1n1gam1]

What happens if it's pushed with a lot of force?

[@ryanc519]

@meseplus that's why he created the ballot to make himself taller

[@DmNetworks]

@fankipete well I was wondering this because you want to use it as an info "bot" so if a kid slaps it this thing falls down so is basically game over, until some good samaritan puts humpty dumpty back online. Or not?

[@ryanc519]

now we have this ballbot the circus doesn't need a clown on a ball anymore

[@Ghost00117]

This is really cool and amazing stuff. I wonder if they could add a feature that can allow it to get back to it's fe..., I mean it's ball when it falls down.

[@tehKap0w]

so many ted talks need an speakers addendum "BTW, give us venture capital money"

[@Eay5paev]

That's great, but what about using a wheel instead? It might be much more difficult, as the robot would need counter weights or something I guess, but that'd be even more impressive.

[@TheResidentSkeptic]

They should have had it take a bow at the end by rolling backwards then forwards :)

[@fullauto9286]

Cup holders, beer and the follow me feature and we're set!

[@Truthiness231]

Oh on the applications themselves: I think the hospital one would really work out though it'll be quite some time before we see them, and the ride "might" be acceptable by society... idk, first look at it reminded me of Mr. Garrison's "It" in it's "practicality"...

[@Crazee108]

its cool, i like the idea that it can be used to carry medical equipment.. smart. =)

[@UDTR8451]

I wondered how they deal with the slip between that ball and the motor wheel

[@wenman]

It will cool to be my personal assistance to carry my shopping bags or grocery.

[@Rylaan]

@PaladinPK Not even goodbye, we would be saying hello to TRULY parallel parking. Parking that is done while parallel! :)

[@CaptainValor]

@jvillavic Thank you! I thought the same thing!

[@0rnJ]

This applied to cars, would be HUGE.

[@DeoMachina]

It's adorable :3

[@Typhoonbladefist]

@MrIntelligenius it's a mix of electronic engineering and computer science, aka robotics.

[@un2mensch]

Splendid!

[@TriplePalindromous]

First thought I had was for filming without the need of rails and shit. Establish pattern, keep distance from objects and people, etc.

[@sou1copo]

Beautiful!

[@jtaggueg]

could it have hands?

[@craigant01]

it should have took a bow at the end! awesome though.

[@Tommykee999]

had a cool thought about a one balled vehicle seach it up aready been done

[@Polywog77]

4 of them would make good leg components on a battle tank unit. Jus sayin.

[@Polywog77]

Rollers on legs for jumping and pouncing.

[@TuskForce]

I like this robot's name

[@Gamesharked]

I would love to have one of these follow me around in public and be my "pet." People would be like... "Uhhh, you got a robot following you." -- "OH, that? Naw, it's my pet." -- "o_O"

[@y0nd3r]

Finally! Rosie!

[@DmNetworks]

what if it falls to one side?

[@陈素星-q1u]

I was searching up Re:Zero

[@TuskForce]

CEEcee Grey my brain trembles

[@athusiva1]

@fankipete Thank you very much :)

[@vidarfreyr]

What does this offer for carrying equipment that four wheels can't do?

[@1schwererziehbar1]

asimo just got served.

[@Nineteen1900Hundred]

Can we have cars with spherical wheels like in "I Robot"?

[@sonicase]

where'd they get that giant mouse ball

[@ipKonfig]

fricken lasers attached to their ballbot's head

[@Kirbynessness]

Hasn't Honda already invented something like this?

[@MrYungilike]

A nice idea without wheels, great!!!

[@meseplus]

Not trying to offend anybody but that guys is short compared to 2 other guys at the end... :D

[@BlackhorseEdits]

there's some smart people out there..

[@BeortheMad]

We have protests all over the world, we are exhausting our world, BUT! don't worry because we have dancing robots!

[@masluxx]

very cool, can i order 3 to server as waiters in my starwars themed bar?

[@HolyBmXfReAk2]

@PaladinPK Say goodbye to going anywhere near 70 mph also.

[@LeonidasGGG]

Small size and ergonomic wheelchairs! :)

[@kkthebest100]

NICE ONE

[@jvillavic]

it's serge, from caprica...

[@Drvelasco45]

Finally a robot that imitates the human feedback movement mechanisms... those moon-walkers were going nowhere

[@popedpopcorn]

love it

[@OgreMECH]

Reminds me of those Dwarvan spheres on Skyrim.

[@AtheerAl]

very promising..

[@Hyperproglo]

I want it to lift me up stairs and put me to bed, oh wait it's gonna have a problem with that.

[@MrHeioh]

很不错，支持

[@karadan100]

That is so fucking cool.

[@eatingtacos000]

wicked cool!

[@eduardoserrano6459]

a waiter to bring you drinks