Why isn't it a bottom/base charging devise? I imaging placing a plug at the bottom of the car (perhaps at the back or front of the battery pack) isn't difficult.
Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
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Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#42The gif is sped up. This vid is actual speed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMM0lRfX6YI I think it's awesome. But, it obvious that the current implementation will inspire the creeps in lots of people. Sci-fi horror has put an unfortunate bad rap on robotic tentacles and chromed vertebrae.
It's funny, if that thing were simply anodized, say, a diffuse white with some blue accents, I imagine it would look far less threatening than its current "Terminator" chrome appearance.
Considering Elon Musk's public statements about the risk of advanced AI, perhaps he finds it helpful to cultivate a sense in society that "Terminator-like" AI is starting to happen now.
Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#43Definitely a PR move to compete with the simultaneous hacking story.
Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#44Are there any engineering advantages from choosing this design vs. a more traditional arm, or plug that just moves on two rails up or down and then extends out? In theory, there is minimal height distance from where such a charging station would be in relation to the car and the charging port height, even when accounting for different Tesla models. As such, I'm not clear why they went with something that on the surfa…
Beyond being able to handle almost arbitrary orientations and alignment between the car and charger, Elon is probably planning on reusing this tech at SpaceX for docking or other purposes (just like they share battery tech).
He's a pro at coming up with "synergies" between his companies.
Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#45I've long been disappointed that, even as far as we've come, most robots or moving computer-controlled things have been a box with something going round on it (car, washing machine etc.) or sometimes back and forth along a straight line. This therefore pleases me greatly. (and it totally gives me the creeps)
it's not without good reason. there's no point in over engineering something when a simpler design can do the trick.
Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#46I invested a little into Tesla stock just because I like the company. Its been funny to me that pretty much any news, good or bad, makes the stock fall. New prototype robotic charging arm? stock down ~8%
There was quite a lot of other Tesla-related news today. The company announced that they're struggling to ramp up production for the Model X and, totally unrelated, the Model S got hacked.
Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#47I've long been disappointed that, even as far as we've come, most robots or moving computer-controlled things have been a box with something going round on it (car, washing machine etc.) or sometimes back and forth along a straight line. This therefore pleases me greatly. (and it totally gives me the creeps)
> This therefore pleases me greatly.
There are days when HN really begs itself to turn into (the worse parts of) Reddit... Seriously though, the gif, video and various comments invoke a mix of various weird feelings in me, most of them not positive.
Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#48I invested a little into Tesla stock just because I like the company. Its been funny to me that pretty much any news, good or bad, makes the stock fall. New prototype robotic charging arm? stock down ~8%
Well, they also announced earnings after market close yesterday and lowered their forward guidance.
Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#49Guess they want to get this out in time for:
http://backtothefuture.wikia.com/wiki/Texaco_service_station...
Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#50As a native Michigander I continue to be amazed at how Tesla is able to out innovate Detroit. After 100+ years of gasoline powered automobiles where is the gas robo snake?
Isn't it enough we have a robo-snake that can zap you? Now you want to unleash a fire-breathing robo-snake on the world?