Cool, somewhat creepy video of four legged robot

Executor32 · Post by **Executor32** » 2008-03-19 05:12am

Molyneux wrote:Does that thing have any optical sensors, or is it navigating entirely by touch?

It has binocular vision like any organic quadruped.

I actually felt bad for it for a second when they kicked it, before I remembered it's a robot.

tim31 · Post by **tim31** » 2008-03-19 05:41am

Executor32 wrote:I actually felt bad for it for a second when they kicked it, before I remembered it's a robot.

Yeah, my thoughts exactly... Felt a bit repulsed at having felt empathy too. There's a name for this phenomenon: the uncanny valley.

Molyneux · Post by **Molyneux** » 2008-03-19 09:02am

Executor32 wrote:
Molyneux wrote:Does that thing have any optical sensors, or is it navigating entirely by touch?
It has binocular vision like any organic quadruped.

I actually felt bad for it for a second when they kicked it, before I remembered it's a robot.

...I didn't forget it was a robot, but I still felt bad for it. I think my Uncanney Valley might be broken.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2008-03-19 11:15am

If I was an islamic insurgent in Fallujah and that thing came around the corner sporting a pair of .50-cals, I'd shit my pants and run for it.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2008-03-19 01:06pm

Couldn't they just have stuck a muffler on it?

Shogoki · Post by **Shogoki** » 2008-03-19 05:08pm

Invictus ChiKen wrote:I think I laughed more than I was freaked out. Judging from the sound when it goes into slow motion, we are SUPPOSE to be scared (at least that's my theory with the be afraid music playing).

It sounds just like the Hypnotoad.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2008-03-19 05:27pm

Pu-239 wrote:Couldn't they just have stuck a muffler on it?

You’d need a muffler and a resonator and it would still be loud as hell given the very short length of the intake and exhaust piping. Not worthwhile for a mere technology demonstrator.

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » 2008-03-19 06:08pm

It occurs to me that I could ride this thing like a mechanical horse.

Companion Cube · Post by **Companion Cube** » 2008-03-19 07:34pm

Ford Prefect wrote:It occurs to me that I could ride this thing like a mechanical horse.

We'll need some double-amputees to fully realise the potential of this technology.

Molyneux · Post by **Molyneux** » 2008-03-19 07:53pm

Companion Cube wrote:
Ford Prefect wrote:It occurs to me that I could ride this thing like a mechanical horse.
We'll need some double-amputees to fully realise the potential of this technology.

...is that a Dragoon joke, or just a reference to "walking wheelchairs"?

Companion Cube · Post by **Companion Cube** » 2008-03-19 08:04pm

Molyneux wrote:
...is that a Dragoon joke, or just a reference to "walking wheelchairs"?

I was imagining some kind of terrifying mecha-centaur. Much cooler that some guy in a wheelchair.

TithonusSyndrome · Post by **TithonusSyndrome** » 2008-03-27 02:16am

And more footage has been released!

Zixinus · Post by **Zixinus** » 2008-03-27 07:46am

That's pretty impressive. I felt that I am look at a horse at one time and I wasn't disgusted or anything.

Here's a link to the company's site. I find the robots cute.

http://www.bostondynamics.com/content/s ... ction=RHex

And more footage has been released!

I am somehow convinced that for some reason, that one wasn't a robot but two guys fucking around. Especially when its starts humping (!) the women sitting on the bench and when it shits out a video tape.

TithonusSyndrome · Post by **TithonusSyndrome** » 2008-03-27 08:23am

Zixinus wrote:
And more footage has been released!
I am somehow convinced that for some reason, that one wasn't a robot but two guys fucking around. Especially when its starts humping (!) the women sitting on the bench and when it shits out a video tape.

that's not what the video says

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2008-03-27 09:00am

Admiral Valdemar wrote:I would think the new generation of micro-turbines would be better. Far more efficient than an ICE, not as heavy or bulky as fuel-cells and pretty quiet from what I've seen so far. They intend to use them for exoskeleton designs anyway.

How would these work in cars?

[R_H] · Post by **[R_H]** » 2008-03-27 12:14pm

His Divine Shadow wrote:
Admiral Valdemar wrote:I would think the new generation of micro-turbines would be better. Far more efficient than an ICE, not as heavy or bulky as fuel-cells and pretty quiet from what I've seen so far. They intend to use them for exoskeleton designs anyway.
How would these work in cars?

They'd work in series hybrid systems. Capstone Microturbines have been used in buses. There are CNG, propane and liquid fueled buses using Capstone turbines (2 30kW turbines), which are used to charge the buses' batteries while they're in service. After some quick googling, the efficiency of microturbines in 25kW to 500kW range is between 20 and 30% with recuperation. Link and another Link

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2008-03-27 02:19pm

20-30% doesn't seem high enough to me, Modern diesels can do better IIRC.

NoXion · Post by **NoXion** » 2008-03-27 02:21pm

TithonusSyndrome wrote:And more footage has been released!

Is it a bad sign that it took me a few moments to realise it was a joke?

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2008-03-27 06:15pm

His Divine Shadow wrote:20-30% doesn't seem high enough to me, Modern diesels can do better IIRC.

Diesels go as high as 50% with shipboard applications, but even a freaking plain old gasoline engine with nothing fancier then electronic fuel injection can beat 30% efficiency. IIRC 36% is around the top end possible with a spark ignition engine. However since gasoline engines and diesels (even in US hybrids) run constantly or near constantly, wasting a fair bit of fuel at idle power, it’s possible that a turbine that only runs in bursts will beat them out overall.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2008-03-27 06:36pm

NoXion wrote:
TithonusSyndrome wrote:And more footage has been released!
Is it a bad sign that it took me a few moments to realise it was a joke?

No, BigDog has really blured the line between human motion and robotic motion. I don't blame you for being fooled for a moment.

Zixinus · Post by **Zixinus** » 2008-03-27 07:00pm

No, BigDog has really blured the line between human motion and robotic motion. I don't blame you for being fooled for a moment.

Strange, I feel that BigDog walks more like a horse then a paw-footed animal.

Tanasinn · Post by **Tanasinn** » 2008-03-28 12:37am

Big Dog, with its weird gate and warbling power source, has always reminded me of some sort of Silent Hill monster. Drench the thing in gore and maybe give it breasts or bandages and it'd fit right in.