Poor, poor Joseph Priestley. The archetype of the Mob; the rage, the torches ;
the burning and desecrated laboratory.
Fire and Ignorance ; the great enemies of human advancement.
Feelers...
So far I've come up with three different designs for a 'sweep-feeler'; I don't like any of them. All too bulky, too fiddly, or both. I may have to go to something pneumatic.
Ever seen an insect walk along, sweeping the ground ahaed of it with delicate , whipping antenna? Some species do. Some species of spiders use elongated forelegs to pat and explore the ground ahead of themselves. I'm looking for a similar motion.

feelings...nothing more than feelings...

The steering arrangement for the Mechanical Mouse.