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 youll 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, Handles 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 ...
Saturday morning at 0400, there is no news this early to numb my brane with its droning, so I turned to a channel that runs old movies. What I found this morning was “The Court Jester.” Oh, my! I had forgotten how truly funny that picture was! And what a cast!!! Danny Kaye was quite the swordsman, too.
So, the First LOL Of The Day Award goes to the last 30 minutes of “The Court Jester!”
I still haven’t gotten a call or email from Walgreen’s about my steroid, so I will wait for a few hours. They often text me when the prescriptions are ready for pickup.
(Dyslexia reigns this morning. I’m surprised I caught the mistakes.)
Morning (((Hugs))) for all and everyone
I remember seeing “The Court Jester.” Danny Kaye was extremely talented.
Morning, all, and I’m out the door with Patrick. I hope he remembers where we’re going.
I’m going to look on eBay and see if “The Court Jester” is available for not a lot of money.
I signed up for a trial period for Netflix, and they have changed their DVD policies so that instead of two to three a week, I saw a total of four movies in as many weeks. So I cancelled the trial. I really want to watch more movies, but the way this is set up, I get them in time for Saturday’s watching. :o|
The Tired is my friend this week. I was hoping it was just a residual from the stress of the letter to HUD, but it’s still with me, a week later. So I can expect a few more weeks of it.
I don’t know for sure, but I may have company the 11-13. Chuck’s sister and his friend from Utah are coming down for his wake, and I have offered my bed to her. With the Fiesta Casino within walking distance, they may just stay there.
Patrick was going to church for Boy Scouts leadership training. Later, he and the brothers will have an altar-servers’ lunch and refresher training. Maybe he’ll get the bells right by the time he’s 18. He zones out while calculating Pi in his head, or something, even when the Mass is in English.
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I just made up some fliers (flyers?) for Eddie the Attorney, and when I go to open the clubhouse tomorrow, I will put them on the table by the office. I only have three made up, but will see how fast they go before I put any more up there.
I told Eddie I would do that for him, just for thanks. His rates and terms are pretty easy for seniors. It’s a good thing he has a day job!
The Evil Sleeps are trying to overtake me. I must be strong!
Several of my family members are still in the grip of the Sleeps. I’ve hassled Tom out so he can go pick up Pat.
Oooooo. Floofy kittah!
Ah, yes. The pellet with the poison’s in the flagon with the dragon.
Wasn’t Angela Lansbury a hottie, though?
The pellet with the poison’s in the vessel with the pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true!
Don’t show your tagline to the Democrats. They depend on reality going away.
I thought the Chalice from the Palace broke.
It did. That was when they brought in the flagon with the dragon.
Engines always run off.
Make sure they aren’t hiding in the cupboards again.
Angela Lansbury and Basil Rathbone, and Glynis Johns...amazing cast. I enjoyed laughing at it this morning!
I won’t be buying that any time soon. The cheapest was $12.00 from Korea!! The highest was $59, and most of them around $30. Nope. Not. Not today.
Walgreen’s sent me a text, so I’ll get the prescription in the morning.
I’m also going to invite Charlie for some spaghetti tomorrow. I don’t want to take it down to him, as I usually do, so he can come up here to eat it. Maybe I can put in a good movie while he’s here. I have several that need to be watched!
He’s pretty happy with his new TV and the satellite service, and I think once he gets used to the remote, he’ll be OK.
Wow. I just spent the last two hours and 30 minutes watching “13 Hours” about the assault on Benghazi. It’s one movie I would watch again. And would even consider buying. Since it’s too late for it to go out in today’s mail pick-up from here, I may be forced to watch it again tomorrow.
Since it’s so action-packed, I actually WATCHED it, rather than be distracted by other things. (Compliments of CFIDS. There are times when CFIDS is a “bonus,” though not very darned often!)
Of course, I knitted while I was watching the movie, but I’m knitting a neck scarf, so it’s an easy thing.
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