Slashdot Mirror
Fujitsu To Ship Linux Powered Robot in July
Radical Rad writes "The Register is reporting that Fujitsu will be shipping a consumer robot in July called HOAP for Humanoid Open Architecture Platform and it will be running a real-time version of Linux. They plan to release info on the controls system to make it possible to program using C/C++. The 7 kg robot is wired with USB and can have an optional 802.11b transceiver." This thing could be a lot of fun to program and send around the house.
Wouldn't it be funny if you had set this up on your network from which you could command it to then do the housework, then someone hax0rs you and uses it to rob you in the middle of the night. That would be hilarious.
Checking out my form of escapism.
I wonder whether Fujitsu would be held liable if someone programmed one of these robots to kill somebody. I could see it argued in court that by using Linux, they made it "too easy" for any psychopath "hacker" or script kiddy to turn their toy into a dangerous weapon.
There are two kinds of people: 1) those who start arrays with one and 1) those who start them with zero.
Isn't there a better way to build a body than upright, two limbs for perambulation, two for manipulation. I mean, our species is sort of stuck with the design. But would it be easier to design something more like an arthropod.
Is the idea that it's be easier to relate to a bipedal critter? Is it easier to program a two legged thing? I'd've thought the balance problems alone would make it much harder to create a humanoid robot.
Any MIT calibre eggheads want to weigh in?
With the current war in Iraq it would be interesting to see a platoon of these mapping out supected landmine areas with 802.11 communications and GPS mapping.
Also, could you get a collective to build research and explorative stations on remote planets for preperations of manned trips to say...mars?
Three short mpegs of this strange thing. http://www.automation.fujitsu.com/products/product s092.html (click on the screenshots)