Slashdot Mirror
STriDER, a Three-Legged Walking Robot
Roland Piquepaille writes "In a short article, New Scientist reports that researchers at Virginia Tech University have developed a tripedal experimental robot. With its three legs, this robot, named STriDER — short for 'Self-excited Tripedal Dynamic Experimental Robot' — is actually more stable than 2- or 4-legged robots. As said another researcher, 'It's like a biped with a walking stick.' This robot is intended to deploy sensors and cameras in difficult-to-access areas."
"Self-excited?" Tripod? And we're not supposed to make naughty jokes about this?
u-bend
Some guy in our neighborhood had one of these. I never saw it. But every time it snowed, tracks made by the 3 legged robot would begin showing up. What was really clever was how he molded animal paws on the feet to improve traction.
The world is made by those who show up for the job.
Our new tripod overlords. My only question, are they HG Wells-style or John Christopher-style?
Kwisatz Haderach
Sell the spice to CHOAM
This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
I can't believe no-one made a joke about Half-Life 2 and the Combine's Striders.
I wonder if Gordon is in on this project?
'It's like a biped with a long dick.'
Fixed.
Hm, I'd say it's more like a nine-legged dog that's had six legs removed.
Seriously, does he think it's that difficult for people to conceive of something with three legs?
"Destroy science and religion. Science would re-emerge exactly the same; but not religion." - Penn Jillette, paraphrased
R2D2 denies being self-excited, and says he only keeps replaying that hologram of Leia for sentimental reasons.
The article can never take your fun if you just refuse to read it. I mean come on...who needs to know what they are commenting about around here?
> And it's worth pointing out that it turns itself upside down every time it takes a step. This would, I think,
> end up being a real bear of a problem in a practical robot... sometimes the head's on the top... sometimes the
> head's on the bottom. It also has each of the three sides being the "front" alternately-- so, essentially, it
> has no front... Still, it's pretty darn cool.
So just put a chaingun on all 3 surfaces and make sure the ammunition feed can handle being inverted. What's the problem?
25% Funny, 25% Insightful, 25% Informative, 25% Troll
The main problem I see is that it can't do any turn by a a 60 degree turn. It can travel in 6 directions only... Makes me feel like I'm playing a hex board game...
Meaning you are prepared for leading the legions of strider-based war machines that are soon to be developed. Bet you never thought hex-based strategy gaming would be relevant to real life, but now you could be a General!
The enemies of Democracy are