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First Two-Legged Robot Marathon is Under Way In Osaka, Japan

Posted by Roblimo on from the four-legs-good-two-legs-bad dept.

gregg writes "Five knee-high androids have crossed the starting line in the world's first marathon for two-legged robots.The contestants are expected to take four days to complete the course, which involves 423 laps of an indoor track." The live robot marathon video feed will make you realize that not all robots are worthy of fear. Or even worth watching for more than a few minutes.

28 comments

  1. Release the gobblers... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Then all you would see is gray goo.

  2. This is how it begins by Jordan+(jman) · · Score: 3, Funny

    This is how it begins. First, they are running laps. Next thing you know, a T1000 is running you down in the streets.

    1. Re:This is how it begins by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

      This is how it begins. First, they are running laps. Next thing you know, a T1000 is running you down in the streets.

      I would have modded this funny if the Terminator franchise was about how evil technology is.

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    2. Re:This is how it begins by SnarfQuest · · Score: 1

      Are we likely to see one of these turn into liquid? Now that would be cool, especially if there are lots of sparks!

      --
      Who would win this election: Andrew Weiner vs Andrew Weiner's weiner.
    3. Re:This is how it begins by severoon · · Score: 1

      I just hope they programmed those robots using Guice. Because...uh...Guice has a solution to the "robot legs" problem. -ba dump ching-

      Btw, you have the funniest sig on slashdot. I've seen it a million times, and I laugh every time.

      --
      but have you considered the following argument: shut up.
  3. Cheating? by Prosthetic_Lips · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Hey, who is judging this? One of the robots just crossed through the middle to get to the other side! Wow, those Japanese are good, they even built in cheating circuits!!

    1. Re:Cheating? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Where are the robot cheerleaders?

    2. Re:Cheating? by MichaelSmith · · Score: 1

      They are the guys. Sorry.

      --
      http://michaelsmith.id.au
  4. You didn't even need to mention it was in Japan. by intellitech · · Score: 1

    I could've guessed that easy.

    --
    vos nescitis quicquam, nec cogitatis quia expedit nobis ut unus moriatur homo pro populo et non tota gens pereat.
  5. Not Surprising by Conrthomas · · Score: 3, Funny

    Who wants to bet that the Japanese will make some kind of game show out of this?

    1. Re:Not Surprising by Sulphur · · Score: 1

      Who wants to bet that the Japanese will make some kind of game show out of this?

      Robots have an advantage in the Hand Bike.

    2. Re:Not Surprising by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I don't know about game shows, but I'll take the bet on porn.

      Well look at that, I've already won....

  6. I read that terribly wrong in my head. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Five-knee high androids. Picture it, it's majestic.

  7. QWOP by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 1

    How is the QWOP-bot doing?

    --
    Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
    1. Re:QWOP by doubleplusungodly · · Score: 1

      Showing real courage, it ran 0.5 meters before falling back and hitting itself on the head, frying all its circuitry in the process.

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      ---
  8. Number Five is alive by gmagill · · Score: 1

    or is it five in number?

    either way, that's the coolest fucking thing I've seen in a while.

    1. Re:Number Five is alive by mcneely.mike · · Score: 0

      either way, that's the coolest fucking thing I've seen in a while.

      5 minutes pass...
      Now this is the most boring thing i've seen in a while.

      --
      soylentnews.org Go there to enjoy the people!
    2. Re:Number Five is alive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      either way, that's the coolest fucking thing I've seen in a while.

      Wow...

      Just... wow.

    3. Re:Number Five is alive by doti · · Score: 1

      would be, if they were autonomous.

      --
      factor 966971: 966971
  9. Re:Number Five is alive? by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 1

    or is it five in number?

    either way, that's the coolest fucking thing I've seen in a while.

    I dunno . . . some dude walked up to me and said, "YOU are . . . number six . . ." I'm still trying to find out what he meant be that . . .

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  10. Is Betting Open? by Scarletdown · · Score: 1

    Are there any bookies covering this? I want to place a 2 bit bet on one of these bots.

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    This space unintentionally left blank.
  11. Lame. by doti · · Score: 2

    Unfortunately, these robots are not autonomous.

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    factor 966971: 966971
  12. Ok but it is a controlled environment. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    This surprises me that we are only at the stage of robots racing on an indoor track (completely controlled environment). I understand that a bipedal running robot is difficult but I am more impressed with a four legged robot that can traverse rocks, ice and unstable conditions. Let me know when the bipedal robots run a real outdoor marathon course, ie. the Boston marathon.

  13. Re:Number Five is alive? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You are not a number, you are a free man!

  14. Required quote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Robot Hoooouuuuse!

  15. tn requin pas cher by abbywer · · Score: 1

    tn

  16. Knee-high by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Kniee-high my ass, I've yet to see a bot over 20cm in the videos... Then again, I suppose it depends on who you compare it to...

  17. And the Winner was.. by JoeCommodore · · Score: 3, Informative

    We heart Osaka!

    That was a fun event to watch, I stayed with it for the last couple hours. Near the end they help up the lead robot to make the finish more exciting, Osaka would have been #2, the other one (I cant find a contestant list) was of the same design. the third place robot (still moving) did about 219 laps of the 422, next was 127, and the fifth robot didn't have a lap count at the end, so probably failed early on. Ah, heres the results: http://www.mastinepal.com/showthread.php?t=11938

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