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 ...
That looks very exciting! I hope he has a wonderful time. I got three boys home yesterday, but Tom won’t be back until sometime today. He can take the Avalon and go to the Laundromat with his wash!
Yes, the “selfish b****” refused to help me when I had a concussion (the one where I had to crawl to the bathroom in the middle of the night so I didn’t get sick — for months.) That was the third time I had asked her for help.
This is the same person who begged me to take legal custody of her when she was 16 and pregnant (and I did.) Alaska wouldn’t let her come to Utah without someone to be her guardian and I was handy. There are several other incidents, but the thing is, I wouldn’t have asked for her help if I’d had any other choice.
She just now (in the last two months) accepted my friend request on FB, even though I sent two of them in the last three years.
I’m glad Tom is home. Did he get his laundry done?
Ooops. I misread that. It’s what I get for being up in the night.
Squeeful kittehs!
It must be time for me to take a shower...
Tom is home, unexpected!ly. On the dinner table, there are two cases of bottles of Diet Coke and some revolting SunDrop that were surplus at the camp trading post. I assume he has a plan for them; otherwise, I’ll take them to church for the Knights of Columbus to use at their various events. Jim-my-fixer never seems to get diet soda!
I don’t know about his laundry. Maybe he left it outside? I could smell the reek of the other boys’ clothes as soon as I walked in the house from choir practice yesterday!
Kathleen fell asleep at 6:00 p.m. yesterday, and I put the other boys to bed at 7:30. She got up at 6:30 today, and now Frank is here, since he wasn’t as tired as his brothers.
I can’t even think of when the last time was that I had a carbonated, non-alcoholic beverage. I would have to take them up to the clubhouse.
And speaking of the clubhouse, I took the messages off my phone yesterday afternoon, and there was one from the manager from Friday morning. I don’t answer my phone unless I recognize the number, and I can’t imagine why he would call me. I’m about half tempted to have Eddie the Attorney come and standby with me. I’ll go to the office tomorrow, right at 0800 so I can find out what Casey wants. Him and his pet beard. *shudder*
I don’t recall the time the call came in, but I was probably sitting out with Charlie.
Hope it’s nothing bad from the manager. Maybe let Eddie the Attorney know you may call him.
The road!!!!
I had completely forgotten about that road.
Car makers spend millions on torture tracksa—all they had to do was drive road to Camp Northern Frontier! LOL!!!
Thanks for the memories!
Is there a point to not improving the road? It gave me the willies!
I’ll email Eddie the Attorney in a minute, and ask him to be with me, just-in-case I don’t trust Casey and his pet beard. *shudder*
I should have had enough brains to ask him last time when I found nothing in the “House Rules” that would warrant a letter for a meeting. I won’t do that again. I’ll just take Eddie the Attorney, just-in-case.
I don’t know..
It is mostly an up hill trek from the main road..
AFIK it’s a seasonal camp - I don’t think anyone is there over winter. The director has a PA address for off-season use. I certainly can’t picture plowing that when the snow flies!
And Son #2 says the road was the same thirty years ago...
That is a handsome cat. Seems very intelligent also.
That road was like that about 40 years ago as well.
I remember that the camp was leased by a logging company that owned the land. The road was a logging road originally.
Perhaps in the intervening years, Northern Frontier was able to buy the land from that company.
We used to have to check we still had four tires and four shock absorbers after traveling that road.
Pretty floof! There are some feral Russian Blues around here, but they are probably mixed. The guy who feeds them says they aren’t his, but he feeds them. He won’t trap them and have them spayed, saying they aren’t his. But we all know they ARE his because he feeds them and brings home the babies so the coyotes can’t feast on too many of them.
Eddie the Attorney is coming this morning. I don’t know if he’ll be needed, but he’s coming, anyway. As I was just about ready to call it a night, the thought hit me that maybe Casey and his pet beard have my “Copy” stamp. You know, the one that disappeared when the doors were first locked a year ago? Maybe you don’t recall that, and it’s OK because that stamp was only important to me. It had my name on it, which is why it’s so important.
In my sorting and filing, I ran across the original invoice. I paid $7.95 + S&H for it in 2001. The replacement stamp from the same company (same stamp) is $21.99 + S&H.
BUT. I’ll let you know by 0830 what it is about.
According to the poster at “Good Morning Kitten,” the kitteh is a blue Burmese. His coat looks a lot like a Russian Blue, but I think he has a leaner build.
I do not remember your “Copy” stamp, but I hope you find it!
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