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New Video of BigDog Quadruped Robot Is So Stunning It's Spooky

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Re: New Video of BigDog Quadruped Robot Is So Stunning It's Spooky

#31

Post by gojomo »

alex_c wrote: post #23
Goronmon wrote: post #4

You know, I knew there was something weirdly familiar about watching that video. Then someone remarked that it reminded them of a Hunter from Half-Life 2. Now I'm scared.

Here's the headcrab: http://www.bostondynamics.com/content/sec.php?section=Little...

And the standalone sentry machine-gun came out from Samsung a while back:

http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/samsung_develops_machine...

Forget the headcrabs -- what about those flying chainsaws in HL2?

Also: will the high school curriculum ever catch up? One of the wackiest 'long bets' offered:

"By the year 2150, over 50% of schools in the USA or Europe will require classes in defending against robot attacks." http://discuss.longbets.org/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=86

Re: New Video of BigDog Quadruped Robot Is So Stunning It's Spooky

#32

Post by carpal »

iamwil wrote: post #21
tim2 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems that it is much easier to stay up with three or four legs than two. Just lock them into a slightly outward direction and you cannot fall. If you're on one or two though, you've really got to balance the rest of the system much more carefully.

Your comment got me thinking. From a technical point of view of traversing over unknown and uneven terrain, there really is no reason to go with bipedal, especially if it's easier to do control systems for tri or quadraped robots. Of the handful that can be bipedal (primates, bears, birds), it's not their preferred mode of movement. However, it's probably a psychological disadvantage for the robots to be 3 or 4 legge…

There are only two real advantages to bipeds:

1) Height 2) Use of spare limbs for tools

Height doesn't seem to be much of an advantage for robots at this stage, and I think that robots could have 6 limbs with no problem. Therefore, biped robots are really only a novelty.

Re: New Video of BigDog Quadruped Robot Is So Stunning It's Spooky

#33

Post by thorax »

chengmi wrote: post #6
paulsb wrote: post #2

I can't decide if the bit where he tries to kick it over or the bit on the ice is best.

I think the ice part is better--I doubt any animal would have recovered from that without falling on its side. What I really want to see is a bloopers reel from early in the project.

Like those ED-209 bloopers...

Re: New Video of BigDog Quadruped Robot Is So Stunning It's Spooky

#34

Post by cheponis »

I worked on the original hopping/jumping/running robots at CMU and later MIT with Marc Raibert. I can assure you that everything done was above-board, published, and open. Dr. Raibert is one of those rare scientist/engineer/entrepreneur types who is interested in progress for people. He was asked by DARPA to develop this vehicle, so he wanted to help them out.

The Sci-Fi stuff in these comments are, well, crazy.

Re: New Video of BigDog Quadruped Robot Is So Stunning It's Spooky

#35

Post by WilliamLP »

boredguy8 wrote: post #7

I was watching thinking, "Yawn". Then it got hit -hard- in the side and use its 'elbows' to stabilize itself. I'm just glad it doesn't hit back (yet).

Yes, wait until it figures out that the best way to stay upright is to subdue the human before the kick can happen!

Re: New Video of BigDog Quadruped Robot Is So Stunning It's Spooky

#36

Post by WilliamLP »

comatose_kid wrote: post #14
rokhayakebe wrote: post #11

i think we are in deep shit. there is no way that such robots paired with artificial intelligence do not take over the world. we are a few years away from it. humans will self destruct not by killing each other, but by creating robots that will be out of control.

Don't forget the sharks that shoot lasers from their eyes. Or the dogs with the bees in their mouths, and when they bark, they shoot bees at you.

That's nothing compared to dogs that can be trained to sick specific parts of the human male body!

Re: New Video of BigDog Quadruped Robot Is So Stunning It's Spooky

#37

Post by yummyfajitas »

nazgulnarsil wrote: post #18

It's getting scary. It's not that we're going to have robots going haywire and killing people on its own. It's that the elite crust of humanity is going to use it againstt us. Think blackwater is bad now? How about when they're not even human beings? The thing keeping the elites in check for all of human history has been that they can't get too crazy or their own soldiers will mutiny. Hitler was a study in charismati…

>Think blackwater is bad now? How about when they're not even human beings?

Then they run at a lower threat level.

A humans's decision process: "Is that guy a suicide bomber? OMFG SHOOT!" A few minutes later: "Fuck sarge, I got scared. I screwed up big time."

A robot's decision process:

    if uncertain_of_hostility(target):
        speaker.warning() #This robot only costs us $50,000. Hearts and minds, right?
    else:
        fire_warning_shot(target, bystanders)

    ## if fu_bar(target): #Don't delete or uncomment this line, or else bad things will happen.

Re: New Video of BigDog Quadruped Robot Is So Stunning It's Spooky

#38

Post by jrsims »

mattjones wrote: post #24

This excites me. If they become common, people are going to spend a lot of time exploring the world -- an antidote to sitting behind your laptop all day. These things would make great pack animals. When you go hiking, you'll be able to toss your gear into one of these things and have it trot along behind you. You'll be able to take more risks because robots will be able to rescue you from tight places. If you get tir…

I admire your optimism. It is indeed exciting technology, but I think this will have military applications long before it is available for public use.

For now, Roomba will have to do.

Re: New Video of BigDog Quadruped Robot Is So Stunning It's Spooky

#39

Post by jbrun »

That is crazy. It is almost like a real dog - which are free.

The real future is with genetically engineered dogs, horses... to run faster, cary heavy loads etc. We have already done it through selective breeding and soon we will be able to program DNA (see Craig Venter, Dawkins...).

These robots are so mechanically complex that they will ultimately fail. Nature (evolution) is the greatest designer. What complex robots have hit the mass market? None, because they are just too many moving parts.

Animals can even reproduce!

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