Overview

• The spherical metashells are crafted from woven polyethylene terephthalate strands that store and release elastic energy through viscoelastic creep.
• Jump timing can be preset from three seconds to 58 hours and launch heights range from half to nine times the shell’s own size.
• Laboratory tests show reliable jumps across solid ground, sand, snow and even water at temperatures down to –15 °C.
• Equipped to carry cargo, a 100 mm metashell successfully dispersed seeds across a 1.5 m radius, demonstrating autonomous payload release.
• Backed by National Science Foundation funding, the team is now developing biodegradable versions and inviting academic and industry collaborations.