Treebot
This inchworm-like automaton, built by researchers at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, is essentially blind. It relies on tactile feedback from its front and rear gripping claws, rather than through a sophisticated visual mapping system, to tell where it's going. While it's slower to the summit than other robotic climbers, the Treebot is among the first to be able to successfully navigate complex branch systems.
Source: gizmodo.comAdded: 31 May 2011