This is another of the NIAC program's awardees. A fun fact about this work is that they crowdsourced a competition to design a fully-mechanical obstacle sensor + avoidance steerage. [1]

I strongly recommend anyone who likes reading about crazy ideas that just might work to check out the NIAC awardees [2]

1. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-venus-rover-challenge-wi...

2. https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/niac/NIAC_funded...

Disclaimer, my idea was funded this year so I'm on the list. :)