<p>Desertification is a massive problem across the globe. We have a general idea of what causes it: unsustainable agricultural practices, mining, climate change, general land overuse. But much like climate change itself, desertification is a complex ecological issue that's difficult to totally understand, not in small part due to the difficulties of gathering quality data.</p><p>Shlomi Mir is familiar with the effects of desertification. Based in Jerusalem, the industrial designer has seen it firsthand. He's currently developing an autonomous system that could help scientists better understand what's happening in the depths of the desert.</p><p>You could employ a swarm of these to sit on sand dunes and record each other's motion.</p><p>His robot Tumbleweed, a nod to its round, spindly shape and wind-powered motion, would roll across the desert, gathering information along its path with the goal of delivering improved, uncovered data to scientist.</p><p><a href="http://www.wired.com/design/2014/02/rolling-robot-prevent-spread-deserts/">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.ubergizmo.com/2014/02/tumbleweed-robot-could-prevent-deserts-from-happening/">Tumbleweed Robot Could Prevent Deserts From Happening</a> (Ubergizmo)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=d1CnaQSywrLmO4MQnwxKJcHfpmaSM&authuser=0&ned=us">2 additional articles.</a></p>