The spheres are coming.
Spherical robots have come a long way since Carnegie Mellon University researchers introduced the first known motorized sphere robots in the late ’90s. They move using internal mechanisms, most commonly pendulum-based drives, that shift their center of gravity.
The spheres have several advantages over legged and wheeled robots. They’re incredibly durable and naturally stable due to their low center of gravity. With far fewer moving parts, spherical robots can operate for days at a time on a single charge while their humanoid and quadruped counterparts only last a few hours.
They’re advancing rapidly and becoming more accessible alongside humanoid and quadruped robots. Today, AI-powered spherical robots are making their way from early prototypes to products ready for everywhere from households to the frontline.
China’s Robotic Police Spheres
In China, spherical police robots are making their way to the streets.
Shenzhen-based Logon Technology produces robotic balls armed with tear gas dispensers, taser net shooters, and other non-lethal weapons. The RT-G spheres weigh about 125 kg (276 lbs), or 276 pounds, and reach speeds up to 35 km/h (22 mph).
With its amphibious design, the RT-G operates on both land and water, including challenging terrain like mud and rivers. Propellers facilitate its amphibian capabilities, while an internal gyroscopic stabilization system maintains balance on land.
The AI-powered robotic spheres have facial recognition capabilities, GPS for precise navigation, multiple cameras, and ultrasonic sensors for obstacle detection. According to Logon, the robots can autonomously detect disturbances and identify known criminals.
The devices have been deployed in Wenzhou, where they reportedly assist officers patrolling commercial districts. Logon says the robots run independently for up to 10 hours.
GuardBot’s Amphibious Spheres
The RT-G spheres share many similarities with GuardBot’s robots that have been under development since at least 2020.
While the Chinese company emphasizes law enforcement, Connecticut-based GuardBot’s robots are more like high-tech sentry robots.
GuardBot’s amphibious robotic vehicles use a patented drive mechanism. A motorized pendulum propels the unit by changing its center of gravity. With the design, the robots can easily move forward and backward as well as make three hundred and sixty degree turns.
The battery-powered pendulum motion drive system can operate continuously for up to 25 hours on a single charge. While stationary, the battery life is up to 45 hours.
GuardBot’s latest machine, the HARV-26, is the largest spherical robot in its lineup. The so-called highly agile robotic vehicle climbs a variety of terrain that traditional wheeled and quadrupedal struggle with.
GuardBot has also baked out a futuristic concept for a spherical passenger vehicle.
Samsung’s Ballie
Samsung is bringing its long-awaited spherical personal home assistant to market after years of research and development.
The South Korean tech giant first introduced the AI-powered Ballie at the 2020 Consumer Electronics (CES) Show in Las Vegas. At CES 2025, Samsung showcased Ballie’s significant advancements as the robot heads toward production.
According to Samsung, Ballie moves around homes independently, interacting with people and connected devices.
The latest iteration features a projector for things like home workouts and movie night. Samsung’s latest Ballie promo highlights its ability to monitor pets and send real-time updates to users when they’re away.
Samsung says Ballie’s artificial intelligence learns user routines and offers tailored services accordingly.
The South Korean market will get first access to Ballie. Samsung hasn’t revealed pricing, but reports from 2020 suggested it’d be around $1,200.
Squishy Robotics
Squishy Robotics, based in Berkeley, Calif., develops so-called tensegrity robots for critical applications like disaster response.
Originally conceptualized for space exploration in collaboration with NASA, the robots are geared toward public safety, defense, and industrial applications. The term tensegrity is derived from tensile integrity, referring to designs that maintain their shape with tension and compression.
A network of rods and elastic cables make up the robot’s unique structure. The design distributes forces evenly across the structure, protecting touchy sensors it houses.
Weighing less than 1.5 kg (3 lbs), the robots are deployable via drones, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft. They can withstand drops up to 300 meters (3,000 ft) without damage.
With customizable sensor payloads, the robots can detect environmental hazards. Multiple cameras provide 360-degree visibility for first responders.
The Future of Robot Spheres
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