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 ...
We have finally moved into our new church. We had to expand the doorways into the sanctuary and some of the Sunday School rooms are not yet finished but we are officially moved.
I am glad we went with the stain glassed windows. Yes, it was more expensive but (IMHO) very worth it. Stain glass windows just say "church" to me.
Welp. All the chores I set for myself for today are done, except for gassing up the truck, which I will do in the morning.
The haircut will have to take a back seat once again.
I’ve had some phone calls that I need to make, but somehow, the mornings have been taken up with other stuff. And still, they wait. And since this is Monday, the calls will have to wait another day, at least. I don’t call anyone on Mondays, because, having been a telephone CSR, I know what the word “slammed” means when it comes to incoming calls.
Epic Fail Latino Lawn Service was here today, cutting grass that is still winter brown. There has been no fertilizer put on it, which is usual, this time of year, so I have no idea what the end game is. All I know is that they were very noisy and left dried cuttings all over my sidewalk. I really need that, after the wind last night. (It actually shook the building.) My patio is full of leaves that were stubbornly hanging on to the branches.
And the mulberry trees are greening up. Ohnoez... sneezy, watery-eye, headachy spring in Vegas. I need to get another bottle of Benadryl. Soon.
I’m fond of stained glass windows, too. We have a few in our church, but it’s hoped the new place, someday, will have some more.
You’re a living marvel. I remembered I needed to get the flea drops for cats, so I took Frank and went to the vet.
Come spring I might make a nice outdoors spot. Or maybe next year. We have been so busy.
I have an ugly brown chair in a corner of the living room with a view of whatever the Overnight People left lying all over the living. When it’s warmer, I can move into my other ugly brown chair in the sunroom, with a view of birds.
It will be like the beach house in my mind that I share with Jimmy Buffett.
Miracle of miracles.
The hard drive managed to escape Kearny, NJ and has been delivered here.
Sometime today (after a run to WallyWorld mandated by Mrs. NoC) I will begin the task of attempted resurrection of the computing device. And hope that my last backup has the majority of my stuff in it..
Good Luck,NoC.
I’m guessing this is Windoze.
May the Gnomes of easy installation be with you.!
That lovely little Church is in Sleepy Hollow, NY.
Amazing what you stumble across when rooting through Goo*le images using a place name you’ve never heard of before. :)
Ooh, I bet it’s haunted!
That's almost what my mom used to say to me.
I’ve been by Sleepy Hollow, NY on my way up to Saratoga Springs.
Sometimes we go up the east side of the Hudson to the Tappan Zee to avoid the GW.
Yes, a Windoze machine that has a seized hard drive. The backup is on the second drive and other files are on two other smaller drives. Sort of worried about those because it has been a while since I attended to them but to the extent that Windoze backup does its thing properly I will have lost from last Sunday (last time Windoze backup ran) to whenever it died - Thursday? - on the files it backs up.
And Argee, anything that avoids George and Martha is probably a better route. Although the Deegan can also be a parking lot.
As am I. Ever do a google search regarding eye color?
That's why I as a poet called my eyes stained glass windows. Jesus and I regard the body as a temple.
I’ve seen potted meat before, but this is ridiculous! Such a tiny squee!
Good morning, folks. I’m not going to Vegas this morning. I didn’t get to sleep until almost 2200 and was up at 0315, and I don’t think I want to trust my driving. I’m tired, anyway, and pushing my luck is not what I’m good at.
When the sun comes up, I’ll go put some gas in the truck. The stereo really wants to come on and stay on, but just can’t quite make it past 20 seconds.
If I can get up the gumption this week, I’ll try to get into the laptop with Win7 for an OS, just to see if I can.
So by now, you’ve installed the new hard drive, so I’m wondering if you’ve managed to save all the stuff you wanted to. (Needed to.)
Good morning! Sorry about your bad night. The tiny kitten is very cute, but the owner isn’t much of a photographer. That was the best view of him.
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