I love this thing! And not just because I get to use the biomimetic tag. These French (?) researchers have created two different biomimetic robots: this jumping one and a phototaxic glider. Whose side will they be working for in the imminent Robocalypse?

Maybe they’re looking for some hot government research contract action? The jumpbot is really extremely small, and it uses the same kind of motor that drives the vibrate function on your phone or… other phone. The whole doodad weighs seven grams and can jump nearly five feet in the air. It’s got hops but has trouble landing (like me) so they’re looking into giving it little wings to slow its descent. More pics after this commercial message, and a really awesome video is at the site.

[via Robot Living]