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. That could be lucrative, might help to pay for the exterminator.
And before I forget...Good Morning! :)
LuDean got her apartment away from here and will be moving in April. And I got a letter from St George that is asking if I’m still interested. So I will sign it and send it in tomorrow’s mail.
Since LuDean put in her application in St George, too, she got the same letter, but since she’s moving elsewhere, she will tell them no. So now, there are only 29 people ahead of me! I will call in May and see where I am on the list, then again in July. Sooner or later, my name will be second on the list and they will have me come up for an interview. *sigh*
I have to be patient.
When I was at Wally’s this morning, I had lunchmeat on my list but walked out without it. Tomorrow, I will go to Walgreen’s and get my steroid, and stop at Albertson’s for some lunchmeat. I won’t go to Wally’s. I hate self-check even more than I did when they first came out with the idea.
It now appears as if I can put gas in the truck or get my hair cut, and the practicality will win. Gasoline.
I don’t worry about bedbugs, because I seldom visit anyone and seldom have company. That cuts my chances exponentially. Should I, somehow, invite one or two in, I would immediately go up to the office and request an immediate visit by pest control.
Problem solved.
I’ve been baking cookies and making refrigerator magnets, which we will offer-for-a-donation along with the cookies. Kathleen has come down with something and has a fever; I gave her a dose of Tylenol and let her go back to bed. In less than an hour we’ll be off to our non-sale.
Bill is going try to change the oil in the BMW.
At least mosquitoes and bedbugs leave you alone when you're dead.
If you know your maths you’ll know that this:
|*|
is the proper notation for absolute arsehole...
Hard drive.
It crashed.
Hard.
Using alternate and not quite equivalent access. New hard drive on order and then I will find out how complete my back-up is. Last back-up was Sunday assuming it actually did. If that is the case I only lost the last four days of data.
I hate typing on a smortphome screen.
I’ve been filing and shredding, both overdue jobs, but totally necessary, since I no longer have hired help. Now I need to go have another breathing treatment! EEP!
One of the magnets came off the refrigerator magnet you sent, so I reattached it and let it sit for two days, so it’s gracing my fridge, now. :o]
I’m sorry about Kathleen!
Bill? Change the oil in the BMW? I hope he can find the 710 handle...
Aw, man? I hate when that happens! I hope the data loss isn’t too catastrophic.
My Gateway was always crashing, and then one day, it gave me the BSOD and never was resurrected after that. Hence, no more Gateways.
We used to call those people “Dead right.”
The oil change will be interesting, but if he’s a success at it once, he has a new skill.
Hard drives that have expired on me historically have warned me in some fashion, often by emitting strange noises from the spinning parts. This one didn’t - unless it did it quietly and it was masked by the fan noise.
Of course a contributing factor is that the machine is on 24/7 since it is the gateway (not A Gateway though) machine for the network. Except for periodic reboots and openings for vacuuming it has been on continuously since I built it whenever that was - long enough for the CMOS battery to die. I had to put a new battery in it before it would tell me ‘NTLDR missing’..
It’s at least four years ago, I could tell you if I could get on the machine.. ;-)
Before anyone drives the car, it would be prudent to at least check the oil level. Someone else, maybe.
Open the hood, find the engine oil dipstick, and pull it out slowly. Wipe the end with a paper towel, and note its markings.
Now put the dipstick back in to its full depth, and slowly pull it out again. Observe the oil line at the bottom of the dipstick. It should be between the low mark and the full mark.
This tells you that you have an adequate level of oil in the engine. (But it doesn't tell you if you have an oil leak.) Only subsequent checks will tell you that, or noticing oil on your garage floor.
Teh floofs is teh smugs
“Open the hood, find the engine.”
Yes, checking if the engine remains is vital.
After that, find oil level dipstick.
Not everyone has the same sad experience with mechanical contrivances as you’ve had, Darks.
If I was that cute, I would be smug, too.
Floofy!!!
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