That is an ascender or the generic term is rope grab. It is in the same category as the Ropeman. It looks a lot busier than it really is since I run the rope back and forth through several carabiners to provide extra friction.Man, I need a full tutorial on what all is going on there! What is the orange device there called?
I can push the ascender up the rope and it grabs when I pull down and I pull myself up the rope. A Ropeman could be susbstituted and it would work the same way but without a convenient hand hold.