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Robosaurus

Posted by michael on from the truckasaurus-already-taken dept.

wpiman writes "The US airforce released this picture of Robosaurus at an airshow. Robosaurus is a purely entertainment robot that stands some 40 feet tall and weighs 30 tons. It can pick up cars, bite them in half, and spits fire. No- it does not appear to run linux." If you look closely, you can just make out Homer and Marge in the car.

26 of 215 comments (clear)

  1. Rugrats.. by NivenHuH · · Score: 4, Funny

    I am REPTAR!!! *ROAR*

    --
    Just when you make it idiotproof, some idiot builds a better idiot.
    1. Re:Rugrats.. by XpirateX · · Score: 5, Funny

      He's obviously burninating across the land...

  2. and you would be scared... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    if you imagined a beowulf cluster...sorry.

  3. RIAA by Nom+du+Keyboard · · Score: 5, Funny
    The RIAA would like a dozen please.

    Suing people just doesn't seem to be getting the message across.

    --
    "It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
  4. Ah, precious precious tax dollars by jabex · · Score: 5, Funny

    Aah, my precious tax dollars at work. Thanks Air Force, keep up the good work!

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    Like Teddy with an elephant gun.
    1. Re:Ah, precious precious tax dollars by irokitt · · Score: 5, Informative

      I saw this thing a few years ago (make that 8, god am I that old?). Let me clear it up for you:

      Believe it or not, quite a few people go to airshows. And these people are a prime audience for a lot of advertising. So most of the performers are in their own business, and all the Air Force/Navy does is provide them a runway for a weekend. And Robosaurus is one of those. So no, your tax dollars were not spent on this thing.

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      If my answers frighten you, stop asking scary questions.
    2. Re:Ah, precious precious tax dollars by jabex · · Score: 5, Funny

      Ah. Well, I feel a little better now. Although there is a dark part of me that wants this to be of some official military use.

      --
      Like Teddy with an elephant gun.
    3. Re:Ah, precious precious tax dollars by LostCluster · · Score: 5, Informative

      Believe it or not, quite a few people go to airshows. And these people are a prime audience for a lot of advertising. So most of the performers are in their own business, and all the Air Force/Navy does is provide them a runway for a weekend. And Robosaurus is one of those. So no, your tax dollars were not spent on this thing.

      The Air Force and Navy are happy to host such events on their property, because the crowd these events tends to attract includes a lot of young males who are interested in machinery... a perfect demographic group for miliatary recruiters to advertize in front of. So for them, they consider it a fair trade.

  5. Transformers by Adriax · · Score: 5, Funny

    Robo in Travel Mode
    Robo is the "World's Largest Transformer". Robo converts to a street legal Semi-Trailer for travel on the nations highways.

    Duuude, it's Optimus Prime's trailer!
    No wonder we never saw Grimlock and Prime's trailer at the same time...

    --
    I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
  6. Great!! by eclectro · · Score: 5, Funny


    I bet that could go a long way to solving the "fallujah" problem.

    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
  7. 1980s? by glpierce · · Score: 4, Informative

    I vaguely remember seeing television commercials for car rallies and destruction derbies featuring Robosaurus over a decade ago. How slow a news day is it?

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    G
    1. Re:1980s? by modifried · · Score: 5, Informative

      I vaguely remember seeing television commercials for car rallies and destruction derbies featuring Robosaurus over a decade ago. How slow a news day is it?

      You're right. I remember seeing Robosaurus at a monster truck show around 12 years ago. I had to check the article twice to see if I was missing something. Maybe it was a newer version, they added some Weapons of Mass Destruction, etc., but nope. It's the exact same Robosaurus I saw years ago.

  8. Why is this news? by weiyuent · · Score: 4, Redundant

    Why is this being posted to Slashdot? The Robosaurus has been making the rounds at monster truck rallies for a few years now. It was even featured in one of the final scenes of the movie Waking Up in Reno. It's not even very interesting -- just a big crane made to look like a dinosaur.

    1. Re:Why is this news? by sense_net · · Score: 5, Informative

      Actually, the Robosaurus is quite interesting: it's a Waldo. The operator (and one passenger) sit in the head section, where the operator controls the machine's arm movements through by strapping himself into a movable restraint system. When the operator moves his arms, Robo makes the same movements. On the bot's page, the credit Heinlein and Aliens as inspirations. Pretty neat!

  9. Our government may be corrupt and evil . . . . . by theparanoidcynic · · Score: 4, Funny

    . . . . . but damnit, if you give me 40 foot robodroids you've given me enough!

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    Only in a Slashdot fantasy can a Slackware install turn into several hours of sex . . . . .
  10. Re:Credit and collections by Open+$ource+Advocate · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd be more worried about the missed car payment!

    --
    Have you read the GNU Manifesto lately?
  11. Survival Research Labs by flyneye · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you think thats cool. go here
    http://www.srl.org
    why slashdot doesnt follow their stories is a mystery.

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    *Repent!Quit Your Job!Slack Off!The World Ends Tomorrow and You May Die!
  12. Say what you want by BCW2 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    but the damn thing is just cool!

    As AI improves people will start making more useful robots, but for now, publicity like this will spark interest. Some kid just got inspired and in 10 years will make millions of his robots.

    --
    Professional Politicians are not the solution, they ARE the problem.
  13. It would've been better to save this story until.. by SilentChris · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

  14. this is like shooting fish in a barrel by SuperBanana · · Score: 5, Funny

    I for one welcome our...our....siiiiiigh.

    This is too easy. Just takes all the fun out of it. Aw hell...no it doesn't.

    I for one welcome our giant, fire-breathing meccha dinosaur overlords!

    --
    Please help metamoderate.
  15. Much better picture... by Omega+Hacker · · Score: 4, Informative

    Much better picture from the Portland International Airshow, 1999

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    GStreamer - The only way to stream!
  16. I saw this by clinko · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I saw this in the superdome in N.O. when I was 12 (1992). I remember I sat in the cheap seats up high which was about where the flames exausted at. All I really remember is how it tore through a van and it was REALLY HOT.
    About a year later fireworks caught the roof of the dome on fire. After that, No more Truck-o-Saurus

  17. This is why it's on Slashdot: by michaeldot · · Score: 5, Funny

    See the last line - no Linux... yet.

    Obviously, there is demand for Linux drivers for the Robosaurus, and the hope is that some large scale hardware hacker will rise to the challenge.

    Imagine the result: Tyranosaurus Tux.

    Then there would finally be a Linux cheerleader with the stage presence of the monkeyman. Send it to Redmond. T. Tux roars: "Ballmer, your ass is mine!"

  18. the best part of the Robosaurus website by fingerbear · · Score: 5, Funny

    the best part is where they describe the giant robot as "car-nivorous." (I'm easily amused.)

  19. Re:Um... what? by Bluesman · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's news because it's finally appearing at an event where most people are wearing shirts with sleeves on them.

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    If moderation could change anything, it would be illegal.
  20. Inventor Doug Malewicki by jayrtfm · · Score: 4, Informative

    The inventor of Robosaurous is Doug Malewicki.
    His website has details of other things he has worked on or invented, including a rocket belt, Evil Knievil's SkyCycle, 248 mph electric car, flying can cooler, jet bikes, and the "build your own hovercraft" that used to be advertised in comic books.