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Bipedal Dinosaur Robot

Posted by Zonk on from the my-birthday-is-coming-up dept.

News for nerds writes "AIST and NEDO announced they have developed 2 bipedal dinosaur robots for the EXPO 2005 Aichi, Japan(Mar.25-Sep.25). PC Watch has an article with pics/movies and TBS News has a movie. Tyrannosaurus Rex and Parasaurolophus are modeled as 3.5m/80kg robots, and cost $1.8 million to build. They can roar and walk with an artificial pounding sound, but not as fearsome as Mechagodzilla. The external skin is designed by Kokoro Co., Ltd. and the endoskelton is developed by Kawada Industries, Inc. which is the manufacturer of the HRP-2 Humanoid Robot."

3 of 130 comments (clear)

  1. A Random question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    When does something stop being a toy and become a robot?

  2. Really cool but... by Zaak · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The video looked really cool--except for the wobbling heads. If these robots were given active head stabilization (easy to do with a camera or two in the eyes controlling neck motors) they'd look very intimidating.

    Also, the herbivore needs to have a bone in its crest. It looks a bit Yoda-ear-ish.

    TTFN

  3. Why? by Paperweight · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Why would they spend so much money on building a robot that had no real use. Sure, it's a nice gimmick to make the news today, but 5-10 years from now they will be sitting in a warehouse or museum collecting dust. For millions of dollars. Why not build a robot that has a real, industrial or military use?