[ASL-EPFL] The function of a mobile robot is to move from place to place autonomously, i.e. without human intervention. Building mobile robots able to deal autonomously with obstacles in rough terrain is a very complex task because the nature of the terrain isn�t known in advance and may change in time. The role of the path planner is to determine a trajectory in order to reach the destination while avoiding obstacles and without getting stuck. A true autonomous mobile off-road robot has to be able to evaluate its own ability to cross over the obstacles it may encounter: Octopus.

More climbing robots here. And I love this Rope Climbing Robot.