Boston Dynamics' Petman robot successfully wears clothes • Hacker News Board

Re: Boston Dynamics' Petman robot successfully wears clothes

#21

Post by epsylon » Sat, Apr 06, 2013, 9:50 AM UTC

bradleyland wrote: post #7

WestCoastJustin wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a video [1] of it walking on its own. I suspect they have the cables because it was leaning over, twisting, squatting, etc and they probably want to assist with balance. [1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mclbVTIYG8E

They're probably fall-dampening cables with very light tension. These types of cables are like rate limiters for falling objects. It would prevent it from slamming down on the floor if balance was lost, but the tension is very light; just enough to take up slack. Because they're positioned only to the sides and the rear, their greatest effect would actually be to make balance more difficult for a bipedal robot.

I'm pretty sure they are used to deliver power as well.

Re: Boston Dynamics' Petman robot successfully wears clothes

#22

Post by bradleyland » Sat, Apr 06, 2013, 4:23 PM UTC

epsylon wrote: post #21

bradleyland wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're probably fall-dampening cables with very light tension. These types of cables are like rate limiters for falling objects. It would prevent it from slamming down on the floor if balance was lost, but the tension is very light; just enough to take up slack. Because they're positioned only to the sides and the rear, their greatest effect would actually be to make balance more difficult for a bipedal robot.

I'm pretty sure they are used to deliver power as well.

The cables at the top are all for fall protection. The tether (power and control) goes through its ankle or hip area, depending on the video. The one video where you see multiple strands hanging down directly from the top are connected to a block and tackle pulley system. If you watch the one shot from behind you can see the hoist hook in the center of its shoulders up high. You can also see the tether at the hip area in the same shot.

Re: Boston Dynamics' Petman robot successfully wears clothes

#23

Post by bradleyland » Sat, Apr 06, 2013, 4:27 PM UTC

gamblor956 wrote: post #2

It's only a matter of time now before robot nudity is a registerable sex offense... Unfortunately, the announcement isn't that the robot has the dexterity to put on the clothes itself, but rather that its sensors and other functionality work through clothes, i.e., a hazmat suit.

I'm not sure if you're being cynical or sarcastic:

"...thanks to some DoD funding, it's using the robot to test suits like this in hazardous conditions, with an array of sensors on the robot itself able to detect chemicals leaking through the suit."

There's a clear purpose here. Humanoid robot testing of garments intended for hazardous duty. I doubt anyone at Boston Dynamics or the DoD are sitting around pondering how they're going to cloth the obscene masses of robot humanoids they plan to produce.