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 ...
Yes.
You are now in Western Civilization: virtual emulation...
Is that better or worse than, "It's raining pretty bad, right now?"
Ummm..
Argee, this is 'Face you're talking about. Anything and everything is possible. ;-)
That WOULD explain the jerky movements.
On an unrelated to clock-mouse item, last night around 2300 my APC BX1000 started beeping. Inspection showed the display indicating battery failure and zero runtime.
I replaced it with a back-up unit with 350 VA less capacity to get the annoying beeping to quit. I popped the battery out of the BX1000, popped it back in and fired it up. It started, went through its self check, and then indicated that the battery was about 25% charged (based on the ‘bar’ on the display.) I shut it off and left it plugged in to charge.
I’ll revisit it eventually to see how it feels about itself.. ;-)
(IIRC Darksheare had a similar happening with his and doing what I did gets it to shut up and function for a while longer, but a battery replacement is looming. Buys me time to get one. Which is actually two. Unless you buy it from APC, then it’s one.. ;-)
That’s because you’ve never been in my house... ;o]
That looks like a traveling toilet.
Yes, ArGee, this is ‘Face we’re talking about. The co-collaborator with Darks on the Anti-Claus saga. The same ‘Face that has Darks’ dreams with him on occasion.
Anything can happen under my roof... And often does.
I did finally get a 28" monitor to attach to it. That thing is HUGH. And the standard resolution font is tiny. But it's fun.
I read somewhere that there's some kind of potty-Uber being tested in NYC which is a traveling toilet. I guess it's for those who can't wait for the stall in Starbuck's or McDonald's to open up.
The Cub Scout bits were in my bedroom and closet. Now all my Scout supplies and craft supplies are in the one bin, along with my emergency Sunday School teacher bag, which has dry-erase markers in it.
Western civilization suffered a blow when Tom the Son returned from his mountain redoubt. They want him back next year to be the inaugural manager of the new dining hall. “I got an accolade!” he said.
Well, that explains it.
Shaken, not stirred, as it were?
Well, the mystery of Casey and his pet beard has been solved. It seems he called just about the same time that Housing Central called to ask if I remembered signing a petition for recall for the current non-council (since folks are quitting right and left) and I said I did, but as soon as I hung up, I got another notice of a message.
It was Casey and his pet beard, calling to ‘splain to me that “for some reason,” the check I wrote for my June rent could not be processed, and would I put a stop order on it and let him know how much the stop payment fee would be.
I immediately called AmEx, and they said the check was still valid and had “not been processed,” which I took to mean that someone had “misplaced it.” So they stopped the payment and I immediately wrote a replacement check and took it to the office, telling Phelan that there was no fee for the action.
*sheesh* And I thought MY math was shaky! LOL!
Traveling toilet?
There’s probably a demand for them.
Somewhere. ;-)
Perhaps in a city where the identity-politics loving mayor changed his name from Werner Wilhelm to Bill de Blasio because he thought the original name was too German?
I’m glad it’s sorted out!
That could be the place.
And the dumping station is at Gracie Mansion...
Are blgthrgths involved anywhere?
“Nothing exploded this time!”
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