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 ...
I've never been stopped by a "what a to-do" situation. I figure the key is bring the attention of those who can do something to the problem. Once I do that, then I can sit back and watch.
Unfortunately, my name is in the middle of this maelstrom and I don't like that. So I just printed out one more letter and put it in an envelope to be slid forcefully under the door of the office tomorrow morning. Once Casey gets wind of the shenanigans, he is going to put some folks in their places. It could even be that the elections will once again be cancelled. For good, this time.
(One can only hope.)
I told Charlie that this may be the reason St George wasn't ready for me.
I just hate when cats get temperatures because they can’t tell you where they’re ailing. I hope Jake was just warm.
With the hoomins, I always say, “Get up, use the bathroom, brush your teeth, and describe your symptoms so we can take appropriate action.” (Usually the symptom is “didn’t feel like getting up.”)
I carted Jake downstairs to the food and sandbox, and after that, he decided to go outside and contemplate avianicide, so he’s obviously not too ill. When he comes back, he can get in his dog bed in the sunbeam.
It sure is peaceful here. DP, Tom, and Elen are at the coast. Bill went to work. Sally spent the night at her friend’s house up the street. After lunch, we need to go buy a new heat lamp for Jack the Rescue Dragon, and we’ll look for clothes for Frank’s First Communion at T.J. Maxx and Ross. Walmart didn’t have any jackets.
Now he’s lying in the garden, thinking about murdering goldfinches. Definitely less energy than usual. His coat is a little gunky, too.
I get up and move around but then I realize I felt better when I was lying down. Hmpf. CFIDS does that, y’ know. I will need another breathing treatment in a bit. I can feel my chest tightening up once again. Not good.
The wind has died down a bit, but it might come up again, later.
Zeke just sent me a text saying that our friend Berta, NASTY trouble-maker, tore one of the fliers off the door. She was seen doing it. So much for freedom of elections...didn’t people get arrested for doing things like that in the national elections?
No, I think they were pretty much allowed to get away with it.
I can commiserate with Jake on murdering avian species. I’d like to throttle a certain mocker, too. Mockers and grackles.
Zeke really wants me to win this election and I don’t necessarily want to. I want the thing declared null because of the interference of Berta and Jan. And it could very well be that that will happen. These people are evil. Berta should have been evicted a long time ago. Four years ago, at least.
I don’t think Casey will be as lenient as the folks in the national elections. He wants to run a tight community, and trouble-makers are usually reprimanded. In public.
At any rate, I want it over with. “Just in case,” I’ve begun setting the alarm on the truck. Berta has been known to flatten tires.
Jeez. Makes the people across the street, with all their felony convictions, look better!
Yes, there are some things that just need to be left alone. Berta has no clue. She thinks it is her right to interfere with everything and everyone. She is 85 years old and thinks she is a teenager, and can do what she wants to whomever whenever and no one can stop her. Privately, I know she will be held accountable for all the damage she has caused all her life, but that gives me no pleasure. In a way, I feel sorry for her. But that doesn’t change the fact that she is just NOT a nice person.
I guess no one ever taught her about boundaries, because she seems to have none.
It’s a mystery how people end up like they do. If it was easy, everyone in the same family would be pretty much alike. And especially with the very old, all sort of medical issues are in play.
When I go to church to turn in my bilingual missal,
I’m going to stop at Harris Teeter and see what meat is marked down. I have to make something for supper. Maybe I’ll remember to get matches, too.
Thinking about Berta and her antics makes me VERY glad I’m not her or anything like her. I almost feel like I should carry a garlic bulb with me when I’m around her.
I really want a beer with my lunch today, but that’s not in the budget. (Still cussing that kid at Wally’s!) Lately, I keep wishing I could have a beer with that rye bread sandwich. I need to get more meat and cheese, but that will have to wait, too.
Right now, I just want to go back to bed, but I will go outside and sit with Charlie for a bit. Zeke is going to bug me about voting, but I’m going to tell him I think it’s bad luck to vote for myself. I think he’s right about me winning, but seeing how this thing is going, I’m thinking if we had done nothing it would have given us the desired results: No council. This way, I will have to go through the motions, and that is not what I wanted for me.
I’ve been sleeping better, what with several of the personnel’s being away for the weekend. That means I have enough energy to take Frank clothes-shopping and get the light bulb for Jack, instead of going to bed with Jake now.
Oh, that’s wonderful!
I decided, after sitting out in the cold wind with Charlie, that both of us needed some comfort food, so I just made some spaghetti and took a plate of it down to him. I had all the stuff to do it, and then I got The ‘Monia.
He was surprised to get it, after nearly a month!
So did you get your errands done?
Found a shirt and jacket at Target, but Frank was too hefty about the middle for the pants. That’s okay: Walmart has a good selection of pants.
Also, we got a light for Jack.
DP, Tom, and Elen just arrived. I guess that’s good.
I’m watching this program on PBS about Passover Week for Jesus. I’m thinking they saw money in the production of a movie because the premise for the thing almost makes a mockery of the New Testament. I don’t like shows like this because they cause more damage than they do good.
In other news, Zeke is still trying to get votes “for me.” I’m not very cooperative at this point, because I don’t want to be voted into an office that I don’t want.
While I was sitting with Charlie, I told him that if I got voted in, I would stay long enough to change the by-laws to reflect real problems facing the residents. Once that is done, I will resign and they can do what they want.
And so, here I am. Monday is still laundry day, no matter what else transpires. And I will go with laundry!
Every day is laundry day around here. I retrieved Sally from her friend’s house. She and Pat are going to youth group tonight. They’re going to watch “The Passion of the Christ.” Others could go, but it’s not the kind of thing I care for.
I don’t believe I’ve had any desire to watch that movie. Nothing could entice me to, either, I might add.
Laundry would be a lot easier for me to look forward to if I had a place of my own with its own washer and dryer. I hate paying so much for the privilege. I doubt if I will have enough quarters to do laundry next Monday, since it’s the day I need to wash the linens. And that still leaves me with at least one more wash day that I can’t afford.
Man. I hate this.
I read the Gospels.
Ah..
Eyewitness testimony..
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