NASA's latest toy is is an oversized robotic yo-yo dubbed the Axel Rover. Developed in collaboration with Caltech, it's designed to to raise and lower itself over any environment with a motorized lever that can be used for tethering as well as scooping up materials for scientific research and maneuvering its two cameras. Two more motors run each of its wheels, which should ensure it's more than equipped to traverse anything from the Garden of Eden to otherworldly terrain right next door to Hell. Check out the rover doing its thing in the video after the break [Via Network World]
