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Distance Record Broken For a Walking Robot
Narrative Fallacy writes "The Cornell Ranger robot has set an unofficial world distance record by walking nonstop for 45 laps — a little over 9 kilometers — around the Barton Hall running track in an event to to show off the machine's energy efficiency. Unlike other walking robots that use motors to control every movement, the Ranger emulates human walking, using gravity to help swing its legs forward. The Robot alternately swings two outside legs forward and then two inside ones and although the robot has no knees, it has feet that can be tipped up and down, so that the robot pushes off with its toes, then tilts its feet upward to land on the heels as it brings its legs forward. The Robot is steered by a hobby remote control which biases the steering to one side or another by lifting one of the four feet slightly. 'We've just moved into this world of electromechanical devices, and to make something this robust is a big achievement,' said Andy Ruina, Cornell professor of theoretical and applied mechanics. 'We've learned tons about what it takes to make walking work.'"
If one of these would become sentient and try to kill me, I should still be able to out-walk it, then. I just hope they don't make any better models :(
Good luck with that.
Can't even keep Google Vans out of our driveways.
...before you call him an overlord?
After looking at the website and the repetitive color scheme, I understand his "sa-shay-ing" into his office.
I think it would be more efficient and less amusing to coworkers if I simply walked into my office.
How amazed would you be to suddenly find that you just forgot what I wrote and you needed to reread my post.... again.
Anyone who has ever worked around a stable will tell you that a horse is not a low maintenance vehicle.
Tell me about it. Finding replacement parts for a '92 Clydesdale is damn near impossible.