As for the camera, I have a completely different idea. Unless it’s going to be used for photography, the robot doesn’t need an image, it can use a wireframe representation of the world. If we use sonic imaging, we could put the sensor inside the shell. Naturally, the shell would still interfere, but sound waves would still get though, and the interference caused by the ball is predictable and can be compensated for in the program, provided we run and implement the acoustic models properly.

On the other hand, I have no idea what I’m talking about.

The rotation of the ball would have a near 0 effect, so only momentum of the motion will be a problem… That and how to make the arms removable so the main sphere can be opened.

BTW in my experience laptops can survive quite well and keep cool as long as their energy consumption remains low, so the ball should keep cool quite a while, just don’t leave it in the sun.

As for the stairs problem you aren’t being creative enough… build a ball elevator controlled from the ‘primary console’ or server, when the ball wants to go up, roll into the special prongs, up it goes and it’s released again!

Just avoid rolling DOWN the stairs.

Re: Jason: I think you have a good idea with the NASA robots.
According to PopSci Sept. 08, page 28, they are inflatable with photovoltaic shells and fit into compartments on the new rover, Mars Research Laboratory. These also have cameras that pop out of the axle to get a look outside.
According to Wikipedia, however, the rover is called Mars Science Laboratory and there is no mention of the scouts.
EDIT: I believe this is similar to what Matthew Ellis links above.

Re: Kannon:
>Also, because my electric motor knowlege is a bit rusty, is there a motor that
>you could easily use in a system that the shells could rotate easily with the
>motor unpowered, and use the motor to either add speed, or as a brake?
You can use a standard DC motor with an H-bridge for this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H-bridge

My ideas:
1. Take a sphere with vents in it, covered in spikes in an even pattern. Put the guts inside here. Take a sphere of elastic material and put it over the spikes. Then add another organ to the machine, an air compressor and tank—lungs if you will. This reduces the air pressure inside the spheres and causes the elastic sphere to mold over the spikes to provide traction underwater or to climb over small thresholds. Contrary to common sense (mine at least), I don’t think this would decrease buoyancy. The average density inside should remain the same unless the outer sphere contracts significantly.

2. Take the two-balls idea, with the mecanum platform. Make both opaque white in the visible spectrum, but transparent to IR so the camera can see out from inside the head. Put bright multicolored LEDs inside the body so that when the head gets knocked off, it can say, “Help! I’ve lost my head!” or similar and the LEDs can light up to show where the head should be put. The arm inside could be articulated or just telescoping and semicircular to move the head forward and back. One could also drill recesses all over the main ball and put light gray furniture-feet in them to get a better grip, but this could interfere with the LEDs.