A new study published in Nature Communications details a hybrid robot that combines the wind-driven mobility of tumbleweeds with active quadcopter control, offering a new paradigm for energy-efficient terrestrial exploration.

Current terrestrial exploration lacks systems that exploit wind for mobility. Further, drag-driven robots like land sails and inflatable spheres require large sizes and complex deployment.

The researchers found the inspiration for their Hybrid Energy-efficient Rover Mechanism for Exploration Systems, or HERMES, in an unusual place.