Posted on 02/28/2017 7:23:43 AM PST by RoosterRedux
Google-owned robotics firm and “nightmare” factory Boston Dynamics has released video of its latest creation: a two-wheeled, four-legged hybrid robot named Handle.
The robot can stand on four legs, like Boston Dynamics’ previous creations such as BigDog and Spot. But at the end of its back two legs are two stabilised wheels, which let it stand up vertically and roll around at speeds of up to nine miles per hour. Think “Terminator riding on a hoverboard” and you’ll have a pretty good idea of the impression Handle gives off.
Boston Dynamics says the reason for the hybrid design is the simplicity it affords: rather than needing the complex joints of the fully-quadrupedal bots, Handle’s wheels can speed it around with little difficulty, while its front legs can be used for balance and for carrying loads of up to 50kg.
“Handle uses many of the same dynamics, balance and mobile manipulation principles found in the quadruped and biped robots we build,” Boston Dynamics said, “but with only about 10 actuated joints, it is significantly less complex. Wheels are efficient on flat surfaces while legs can go almost anywhere: by combining wheels and legs, Handle can have the best of both worlds.” The video does not, however, show Handle walking rather that scooting around on its wheels.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
Good morning. We’ll be heading out in the coooold soon to help at the church Easter egg hunt. I’ve dug my waterproof yardwork boots out of the garage to keep my feet dry.
I don’t want to do anything, but I need to check at Smith’s. *sigh*
Then I will come home and pretend like I’m a slug. :o|
My son is painting his VW, and he is having a tough time with it. It was supposed to be a one-coat job, but he used the wrong prep undercoat, and the paint didn’t lay on the way it should have, so he has to sand it and put another two coats one. Man. I hate that.
Zeke just told me that Jan, who thinks she has this election sewn up, has been removing flyers, every time Zeke replaces them. Even though this is a small scale election, what she is doing is illegal.
I just composed a short letter to HUD LV, SNRHA for both offices, and will get it in today’s mail.
Zeke seems to think his friend Bob will go around and talk to people who weren’t going to vote because of the people on the slate, and I’m thinking the general consensus is that there wouldn’t be enough votes to get them into office, resulting in yet another election.
I’m asking, that because of the current hijinks, that the resident council be rendered null and void henceforth. We shall see.
Darn, talk about a tempest in a teapot!
It warmed up nicely for the church’s Easter egg hunt. The Scouts were helping/recruiting. After lunch, I need to go to Walmart for the bell pepper and whatever else. Milk, I guess.
I don’t think I’m going to get to Slug until bedtime. However, I slept a little better than usual last night. Didn’t have Jake in the room, *and* he didn’t knock at the door. Maybe he slept with Bill.
Bill didn’t get the job he interviewed for, but he has another prospect.
Yes, some of the residents here are really pieces of work. I keep thinking this gal is off her meds or that she has been eating a diet consisting only of soy products. Either way, she’s something else.
So. The letters are ready to go, complete with no return address and no signature, and I’m calling for meeting to do away with the council here altogether. It isn’t needed. Zeke wants it, but I don’t. I can get the same results by eliminating the council as I can going through the work of trying to get the residents to agree to the agenda. This way, it’s out of everyone’s hands but the Big Boys.
And in a few minutes, I’m going to go out and sit with the calmly sane Charlie, who hasn’t wanted a resident council in the last five years. Me, too!
Then I will come in and either knit, crochet, work on my personal history, or go read, since I don’t have a TV in the bedroom. I just spend so much time in bed, thanks to CFIDS, that I really do need a TV in the bedroom, for those days when I just can’t get up.
I will keep Bill in my prayers, because sooner or later, he will get the job he wants. He just shouldn’t get discouraged by the amount of interviews, and that’s what I’ll pray for — the non-discouragement!
I forgot to get matches again. I made chili with the bell pepper, but we’re out of garlic. Not that the Offspring care. Soon I’ll get dressed for church; I want to be there by 4:00 so we can make ourselves useful.
Somehow, I picked up another virus on this computer, and I don’t know what to do about it. I just restored it from 0530 this morning, but it took over two hours. So I’m going to delete a couple of programs, and hope that helps, since I can’t afford a spendy anti-virus program.
Now, I’m almost ready for bed. Actually, I was ready about two hours ago, but the computer had other plans.
*argh*
Tomorrow, I’ll make the stuffed peppers. I figure I can freeze what I don’t eat. I forgot to ask Charlie if he liked them, but even if he doesn’t, I do!
And now, I’m getting cold chills, which is not a good sign, so it’s time to head for the bedroom. I will go to Kmart soon to put a TV on lay-away. I really need one in the bedroom, especially when the chills tell me something is going on with my body.
See you in the morning.
I hope you have a good night. I lived through Mass with the six Offspring.
Taking six offspring to church is quite the feat, especially when they are large and growing.
That very vocal mocker was on my patio fence again last evening, just about the time I was trying seriously to sleep. It was very cold and very windy out, and when I went to shoo him away, he was all puffed up to twice his normal size, but he was going to woo the wimmins, regardless!
As a result, (it took several tries to convince him my patio fence was not the place to display his prowess) it was 2000 before I finally shut the light off and went to sleep.
That sleepy little squee has the right idea! He looks so peaceful there, storing his energy for the mayhem he will take part in when he wakes up...
This morning, I feel the loss of sleep. I don’t want to be up. I don’t want to open the clubhouse, and I don’t want to start the day. Ungh. Argh. Blech.
I have to go get a prescription for one of the nebulizer meds after I open the clubhouse. I really wish I didn’t need them. This one isn’t quite as expensive as the steroid, but it may as well be, for as much as I have left, thanks to that little twerp at Walmart Friday morning.
I wanted to sleep more, but I was dreaming obnoxious things. One was that I’d left my purse somewhere during a trip with many children. We were waiting in line for the bathroom when I thought, “Oh freep, where’s my purse?” I think the fact that my shoulder hurts made me dream about my purse, which is very heavy.
Bill the Son went off to work. Nobody else is up except Shannon. Jake is either in bed with Pat or hasn’t come home from his night out yet.
I’ve had my shower and feel somewhat civilized, but I still don’t want to go out and start the day. If I hadn’t had to open the clubhouse, I could have had another 30 minutes’ sleep.
I carry a backpack instead of a purse, because it holds an awful lot more stuff, and when it gets too heavy, I can use it as a backpack. This particular one is denim, and I try to find them when they wear out because I can wash them. I do have purses, but use them when I dress up. Backpacks are the way to go, for sure. I think I’ve used them since I went to business school in LA, in 1991.
There is time for a breathing treatment, and then I will head out for the clubhouse, then Walgreen’s. Ungh.
I plan to shower eventually, before the people come home from the coast with all their wash.
I’m having some leftover chili for breakfast.
Leftover chili for breakfast is almost as good as cold pizza!
Now, I’m outta here. See you in a few.
I heated it up. It was good. Best wishes on the outing!
All the fliers Zeke put up yesterday are gone, and I am more determined than ever that this will not go unnoticed by management. The letters to anybody who can do any good went out yesterday, and when I go to do the laundry in the morning, I will slip one under the manager’s door so that he knows what his stellar renters are doing to those lesser.
The stupidity of this woman (evidently, it was agreed that she would be the one voted in) is beyond description. She doesn’t like competition and is a sore loser. I’ve seen her in action before and she is really a piece of work. She needs to have her meds changed.
Zeke came in armed with another bunch of fliers and they will be gone before the morning is too far in advance.
What a to-do!
We found Jake in Elen’s bed. It feels like he has a fever, but he may just be really warm from being under blankets. I don’t see any injuries, and he’s not limping. I suppose it could be his teeth.
If he’s not better in a few days, we can get a vet appointment ... like we’ve nothing else to do ...
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