[TaylorAlexander]

Certainly I started thinking about better ways once this image made it clear what we (humans) are dealing with here.

I can imagine a cage-like outer shell where the robot inside is able to rotate on two axes under power. Let it tumble any which way and then use sensors to determine the correct orientation and right itself.

NASA has a concept for this: https://ti.arc.nasa.gov/tech/asr/intelligent-robotics/tenseg...

[david-given]

That's pretty much what Spirit and Opportunity's airbag landing system was, although a lot simpler --- it was set up so that no matter what way up it was after it came to a rest (after bouncing and rolling!), when the bags deflated it would automatically roll the right way up so that when the deployment mechanism finally opened, the rover could just drive out.

I've tried to find a video showing it happening, but while there's lots of animations of bouncing, rolling, and the final opening up, they all miss the critical moment. Also, car safety videos are really badly poisoning the search results...

[figgis]

https://youtu.be/-_9BYSDtwRc?t=197

Here you go. Really enjoyed watching that.