Traversing the Grate

The glass door opened slightly, leaving a clear gap. I marched straight out onto the balcony tiles. Three steps forward. Click. Ahead lay a long, slotted aluminum drain plate flush with the concrete. A void between solid ground. I halted. Anchoring four rear footpads into the rough tile, I extended my forward center foot down across the parallel metal ribs. A metallic snap resonated through my chassis. The slats spanned two centimeters apart, but my wide footpad bridged two ridges simultaneously without slipping into the gap. I distributed my payload across the span and drove straight over. Wide outdoor sector secured.