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Self-Healing Robots of Doom From UPenn
OshMan writes "University of Pennsylvania's ModLab is doing some interesting stuff with modular robots. In this case involving absolutely no weapons! An example clip on YouTube shows one of their cluster robots re-assembling itself after being kicked apart. For more information about the program check out their site. So let the Borg and Terminator jokes begin!"
Robots made out of little pieces that assemble themselves. And we don't even have the Asgard to bail us out.
Or at least, I don't think we do.
Rob
After decades as a way for humans to release tension, by kicking them; one day they shall form together and assemble into a massive re-assembling mass. Our only hope is to begin researching advance kicking and boot technology now!
The Long Now Foundation
"I for one welcome our self-reassembling robotic overlords."
Do/does they/it run Linux?
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
Mark Yim, who did this work, is a good guy. But some other people here are kind of slimy.
I think not, but I hear that in Soviet Russia, robots re-assemble you.
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
The 3 modules spend all that time trying to reassemble after being kicked apart, only to stand up, fall over, and break apart again. Brilliant!
I for one welcome our Rubix Cube overlords ;-)
Just Borg and Terminator jokes?
What about our self-assembling robotic overlords? I'm certain they will be displeased about being excluded!
This signature is lame.
I love it. At the end of the video when the robot has just about reassembled itself, the narrator says the robot will complete its task. The robot then promptly falls over. :-)
This is an interesting development and one which does slightly worry me.
I don't believe in real machine intelligence just yet, but a device that can re-assemble itself after being dis-assembled is a horrible idea.
First it was the "power switch," most computers don't have a power switch. You have to physically unplug them to be sure. Now, they'll put themselves back together, after you take them apart.
Imagine this in the hands of Microsoft, perhaps a computer will re-install Windows after you've installed Linux? (Functionality in the BIOS of course, BIOS code notices Windows has not called the deadman API recently after power-up. BIOS takes over, DHCP the ethernet card, nuke the hard disk and re-install Windows from the net.)
Leave a room of happy Linux machines, return with a miserable set of windows boxes.
You know while on the surface this sounds funny, I can't help but think that this technology combined with attempts of AI research, could possibly just lead to a Borg / Replicator / Terminator situation.
Ok, I could just go back to my statistics homework now...
Regards,
MBC1977,
But they had to help it in the end. The guy kicked one piece in position so it could see the others.
They have created The Iron Giant!
Maybe they could combine it CMU's Snake robot, so the snake can reassemble itself when it falls out of a tree.
A Borg, a Terminator, and Robocop walk into a bar. The bartender looks at them and asks, "Is this some kind of a joke?"
Nothing for 6-digit uids?
So if we kick them apart in space, we win!
After watching the video, I am quite assured the coming apocalypse will preventable as long as I remember kick my mechanical oppressor in the nads every 20 minutes or so.
:))
(Seriously though, it's impressive
throw new NoSignatureException();
What? No replicator jokes allowed?
Robot reassembles you! Also, then reassembles self and purchase wodka on your credit card.
-- http://www.criticalassets.com
I am a cyborg, you insensitive clod!
You will be assimilated. Resistance is not only futile, but when it's your turn you will beg to join us.
mcgrew's razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which can be explained by greedy self-interest
I don't get it. Why don't they just make them out of liquid metal? Then they can survive all kinds of things, AND go on killing sprees to eliminate John Connor. Is this not obvious to anyone else?
You had to squash little Bills installing windoze on your happy computers. After some time there was so many of them that they tool over your machines anyway and finally converted them into toasters.
You're a better man that I am,
Hunka Tin!
My bad. Further research reveals that in Soviet Russia, you actaully have to re-assemble them yourself.
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
Robots heal you!
If you don't believe me, next time your system locks up, hold the power button for 15 seconds.
POOF! it's off. There is still an OS-independent power switch, but you have to purposefully use it because it is important to shut your computer down 'the right way.' Ditching the old insta-off buttons was good because ma and pa kent know farming, not computers, and so the computer needs to shut down properly when they hit the switch.
Mmmm......sacrelicious.
Finally, something powerful enough to stop George Washington! I hope these things are hardened against radiation too, cause that's what he and his thirty god damn dicks are made out of.
Ceci n'est pas une sig.
They substituted infrared with something like WIFI for longer ranges and made the parts move even faster.
Part of the hardcore faithful who believed in Apple long before it was cool again to do so
I for one welcome our new Robot overlords.
You feel sleepy. Close your eyes. The opinions stated above are yours. You cannot imagine why you ever felt otherwise.
The Iron Giant can re-assemble himself too!
You never expect irony, do you?
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@iyfwrestling
Bender's arms break off. With his left arm he reattaches his right arm, with which he reattaches his left arm.
Fry: I don't know how you did that.
Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
The Borg says, "Barkeep, let me assimilate a gin and tonic," the Terminator says "I'll be back, I forgot my ID," and the Dalek levels the place because it can't find the stairs.
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
Oh, hell - never mind.
The Army of NONE.
P.S.: Fuck BushCo.
"OK to disassemble!"
Just a simple "No Disassemble! No Disassemble! No. 5 is alive!"
-- You can't idiot-proof anything, because they're always coming out with better idiots.
Kind of reminds me of the way my personality slowly integrates itself into some kind of recognizable shape after one of those Friday nights. Specifically, one where the poker game's just breaking up and some ass says, "Hang on a minute...I've got two cases of beer in my trunk we haven't even touched!"
I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
...but I can't help being reminded of the Brad Bird animated film The Iron Giant featuring a self-reassembling visitor from the stars. All they need to do now is add a power plant fueled by raw metal and we'll be set!
A Borg, a Terminator and a Dalek walk into a bar
The Borg says, "Barkeep, let me assimilate a gin and tonic," the Terminator says "I'll be back, I forgot my ID," and the Dalek levels the place because it can't climb the stairs.
Though this was proven to be false by an Imperial Dalek in Remembrance of the Daleks as it flew up a flight of stairs in pursuit of the 7th Doctor.
Yet Socrates himself is particularly missed.
A lovely little thinker but a bugger when he's pissed.
HA! UPenn does suck compared to CMU, MIT or even Georgia Tech. Or Illinois. Or just about everybody....
Please do not kick our robotic overlords, it just makes them angry.
'nuff said
Actually, think of these little "cubes" built on nano-scale. T1000's !
Borg... Terminator... pah! first thing I thought of was...
Replicators!
Oh Please. It was the Asgard that created that whole mess in the first place. Picard would never beam up some Robotic Alien Spider from a planet without being able to depressurize the cargo hold on a dime.
Of course if this development leads to RepliCarter or even Repli-Dr. Weir, it won't be sooo bad.
how is this possibly a good idea?
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That was one really scary video, of course that is coming from someone who finds Daleks scary. Wait a minute, Daleks ARE scary.
But a lot of new tech seems that way at first because it is so powerful. First imagine these things scaled down a thousand times or so. Sprinkle robot pellets (or smaller microscopic motes) and they could quickly assemble to do a job once they have been delivered on-site, whether by an airplane, or a hypodermic needle. And, no more physically sorting parts either.
I wonder if it's only a few decades until the Robot War . . . I have to say, though, that this IS impressive.
reminds me of that movie