Leaked Video Shows New 'Nightmare-Inducing' Wheeled Robot From Boston Dynamics (theverge.com)

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Leaked Video Shows New 'Nightmare-Inducing' Wheeled Robot From Boston Dynamics (theverge.com)

Posted by msmash on Wednesday February 1, 2017 @08:00AM from the living-upto-expectations dept.

Boston Dynamics has a reputation for building robots which push the boundaries of robotics technology, although with a slightly creepy persona. Its latest robot is no different. From a report on The Verge: The company's new wheeled, upright robot is named Handle ("because it's supposed to handle objects") and looks like a cross between a Segway and the two-legged Atlas bot. Handle hasn't been officially unveiled, but was shown off by company founder Marc Raibert in a presentation to investors. Footage of the presentation was uploaded to YouTube by venture capitalist Steve Jurvetson. Raibert describes Handle as an "experiment in combining wheels with legs, with a very dynamic system that is balancing itself all the time and has a lot of knowledge of how to throw its weight around." He adds that using wheels is more efficient than legs, although there's obviously a trade-off in terms of maneuvering over uneven ground. "This is the debut presentation of what I think will be a nightmare-inducing robot," says Raibert.

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IM FRIST PSOTING ON SLASHDOT by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:01 · Score: -1
1. Re:IM FRIST PSOTING ON SLASHDOT by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:25 · Score: 0, Offtopic
  
  Impeach Donald Trump Now !
  This letter may be a bit overwhelming for those people who are still soundly asleep in a world of make-believe and television and who don't want to hear how Donald J. Trump should have been removed from the gene pool before he had a chance to contaminate it. Let me cut to the chase: Trump proclaims at every opportunity that he'd never defuse or undermine incisive critiques of his macabre behavior by turning them into procedural arguments about mechanisms of institutional restraint. The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks. His subalterns are unified under a common goal. That goal is to legitimate irresponsibility, laziness, and infidelity. Continue to appease Trump, and he will surely kill innocents in cold blood. We need to deal with him appropriately. Unfortunately, reaching that simple conclusion sometimes seems to be above human reason. But there is a wisdom above human, and to that we must look if we are ever to make the world safe for democracy.
  Trump whines about longiloquent putterers, yet he enthusiastically supports self-righteous gossipmongers. His cock-and-bull stories are a logical absurdity, a series of deductions from a premise that has been denied. Speaking of absurdities, Trump can't fool me. I've met bossy poseurs before so I know that honor means nothing to Trump. Principles mean nothing to Trump. All he cares about is how best to pose a threat to personal autonomy and social development.
  Trump's maudlin preoccupation with particularism, usually sicklied over with such nonsense words as âoemicrocrystallographyâ, would make sense if a person's honor were determined strictly by his or her ability to monopolize the press. As that's not the case, we can conclude only that Trump fully intends to promote intolerance and paranoia. But that's not enough, not for him. Trump will additionally prevent us from getting in touch with our feelings, which is why I avow that it is impolitic, dangerous, degrading, and unjust to evade responsibility. For that reason, it would be wrong to imply that Trump is involved in some kind of conspiracy to bake us a cake of imperialism, filled with credentialism and topped with a layer of faddism. It would be wrong because his diatribes are far beyond the conspiracy stage. Not only that, but once in a blue moon, which is still far too often, one encounters the lie that we should avoid personal responsibility. A quick way to refute this myth is to note that Trump's activities are a cancer that gnaws away at the national psyche. To say anything else would be a lie.
  It's easy to see that Trump and his hangers-on are blossoms on the upas tree of desperadoism, but let me tell you the rest of the story: Many of us are too naÃve and trusting. It takes a lot of convincing to get us to see a person as inherently liberticidal or inherently tasteless. Alas, Trump is doing all he can to provide us with unmistakable proof that he is inherently both. For instance, Trump professes that he could do a gentler and fairer job of running the world than anyone else. Has anyone, at any time, ever been more wrong? We should be able to look into our own souls for the answer. If we do, I suspect we'll find that Trump gets a lot of perks from the system. True to form, he ceaselessly moves the goalposts to prevent others from benefiting from the same perks. This suggests that Trump recently made the astonishing claim that we can stop hucksterism merely by permitting government officials entrÃ©e into private homes to search for ornery, contemptible brownshirts. Stripped of all its hyperbole, this statement is really just saying that Trump says that his socially inept, drugged-out gang is a benign and charitable agency. You know, he can lie as much as he wants, but he can't change the facts. If he could, he'd doubtlessly prevent anyone from hearing that I have in fact told him that his machinery of panoptic control seems to have no bounds. Unfortunately, there really wasn't anything to his response. I suppose Trump just doesn't want to
2. Re: IM FRIST PSOTING ON SLASHDOT by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:37 · Score: 0
  
  Holy shit I know! HUH?!? He IS awesome. I'm SO glad he's president now. Although I'm thinking that your "wanting him to dip his balls in your mouth" is a bit over the top.
3. Re:IM FRIST PSOTING ON SLASHDOT by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:25 · Score: 0
  
  Impeach
  
  Like Clinton was impeached? I don't even think you know what that word means, so why should I trust you?
  Why don't you wait until after you finish your high school civics class before posting. It's usually taken in your senior year of high school.
4. Re: IM FRIST PSOTING ON SLASHDOT by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-04 04:21 · Score: 0
  
  Go post your crap somewhere else.
2st Psot! by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:03 · Score: 0

Whut does I win?
1. Re:2st Psot! by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:08 · Score: 0
  
  You win a date with a nightmare inducing robot. Her name is Hillary.
2. Re: 2st Psot! by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:27 · Score: 0
  
  Just watchef the video. Man! That's gonna induce nightmares.
3. Re: 2st Psot! by thinkwaitfast · 2017-02-01 10:04 · Score: 1
  
  We used to build stuff like this in college. It's actually an easier problem to realize than bi (or quaddru)pedal locomotion
Nope by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:03 · Score: 0

That's not nightmare-inducing at all. That's pretty cute. I shall call it Stumpy-wheels, and i shall use it to guard my house from idiots, children, and idiot children.
1. Re:Nope by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:11 · Score: 1
  
  when its eyes turn into red lights, and you hear an up and down swooshing sound almost like breathing coming from it, you'll be screaming 'Heavens to Murgatroyd Stumpy Wheels NO!!!' as it rapidly circles you, gracefully slicing carrot-sized strips of flesh from your body before you can even start to react
2. Re:Nope by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 14:20 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  It's a fucking Tachikoma
  And yes, they are cute and very, very helpful
3. Re:Nope by Vastad · 2017-02-02 09:05 · Score: 1
  
  Once in a while, give it organic oil instead of synthetic oil as a treat. Tachikoma's love treats.
"Leaked" by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:04 · Score: -1

"Leaked" as in Boston Dynamics is desperate for investors to keep going, producing their crap. We aren't going to have general purpose robots anytime soon. Or AI. Sorry Star Trek geeks who are waiting for Data. It ain't gonna happen.
1. Re:"Leaked" by mmell · 2017-02-01 08:28 · Score: 1
  
  "It ain't gonna happen" today.
  FTFY
2. Re:"Leaked" by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:23 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah, but like copyright* expiration, we won't it in our remaining lifetime.
  *see what I did there, pretty proud myself...
  CAP === 'frieze'
3. Re:"Leaked" by khallow · 2017-02-01 09:39 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  It would be one thing, if we were digging up ancient general purpose robots and having gone nowhere with them over thousands of years, decided that they weren't that exciting. That would be rational. But to declare that they can't be done merely because they haven't been done before is colossal ignorance. Virtually everything we do today, beyond the rudimentary level of basic life processes, is something that at one point hadn't been done before.
4. Re:"Leaked" by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 10:38 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah, after Google dumped them it's clear they aren't producing anything useful at all. Of course, two seconds of looking at their videos with a critical eye would make it obvious these robots are not going to be useful. These things are to robots what Segue is to transportation.
5. Re:"Leaked" by peawormsworth · 2017-02-03 00:16 · Score: 1
  
  I don't know. Give it a gun and see what happens. It could be useful
Dick Cheney's Wet Dream by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:04 · Score: -1

He is leaking his Depends every night and every day with old man urethral "saliva"
Thanks for endless wars, Bush II and Obola!
This is Awesome by Thelasko · 2017-02-01 08:07 · Score: 4, Insightful

So many years have been spent trying to make a robot than can walk. However, this is better. This is a robot that can roller skate. It's faster than walking or running, but just as agile!

--
One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
1. Re:This is Awesome by BradleyUffner · 2017-02-01 08:11 · Score: 2
  
  It's faster than walking or running, but just as agile!
  Unless it needs to climb over something like a pile of rocks, or stairs.
2. Re:This is Awesome by The-Ixian · 2017-02-01 08:12 · Score: 1
  
  but just as agile
  Tell that to a Dalek circa 1963 or R2D2 circa 1977
  
  --
  My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
3. Re:This is Awesome by toonces33 · 2017-02-01 08:14 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  If you read the article and look at the video clips, you see the robot get a running start, get down into a crouch and then jump in the air just in time to clear a barrier.
  In a real warehouse that would be a pretty useless capability, but it still seemed kind of cool.
4. Re:This is Awesome by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:19 · Score: 0
  
  Lock the wheels (electronic braking) then use the legs to walk or climb. I'm sure they've already thought of that.
5. Re:This is Awesome by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:27 · Score: 0
  
  Can't roll so well when the wheels are tangled in nets.
  Can't turn so well when the floor is covered in Crisco or marbles.
6. Re:This is Awesome by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:29 · Score: 0
  
  No kidding this is awesome! 'nightmare inducing' what sort of fool would say that? That is amazing work. This sort of work will let us do amazing things.
7. Re:This is Awesome by JaredOfEuropa · 2017-02-01 08:30 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Screw warehouse work, just turn that sucker into a Segway-like robot that can carry me. Now jump!
  
  --
  If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
8. Re:This is Awesome by Vireo · 2017-02-01 08:30 · Score: 1
  
  The bubbly Tachikomas from Ghost in the Shell comes to mind when talking about combining legs and wheels...
9. Re:This is Awesome by David_Hart · 2017-02-01 08:34 · Score: 1
  
  If you read the article and look at the video clips, you see the robot get a running start, get down into a crouch and then jump in the air just in time to clear a barrier.
  In a real warehouse that would be a pretty useless capability, but it still seemed kind of cool.
  The fun part for me was when the robot put it's "hands" down on the ground to steady itself after the jump. I was wondering how they would handle the landing on just wheels. Without it the robot would have done a "face plant".
10. Re:This is Awesome by Solandri · 2017-02-01 09:15 · Score: 1
  
  I'm curious how this wheeled robot does on ice. The thing that was impressive with previous Boston Dynamics robots wasn't that the walked or ran - lots of robots can do that. It was how well they recovered from unexpected events.
11. Re:This is Awesome by MindPrison · 2017-02-01 09:28 · Score: 1
  
  > Screw warehouse work, just turn that sucker into a Segway-like robot that can carry me. Now jump!
  Well then, see ya next life!
  Waaaa.aa...a..a......a.......h......... Splat!
  
  --
  What this world is coming to - is for you and me to decide.
12. Re:This is Awesome by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:31 · Score: 0
  
  'nightmare inducing' what sort of fool would say that?
  Boston Dynamics company founder Marc Raibert.
13. Re:This is Awesome by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:38 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  This looks a bit closer to the motorcycle mechs in Rideback. Once they learn ballet, the robots will be unstoppable...
14. Re:This is Awesome by ctilsie242 · 2017-02-01 09:59 · Score: 1
  
  It does have its advantages if needing to get supplies over terrain where even 4x4s may not cut it. I can see it usable for getting stuff to a place in the mountains should there be a disaster. If one had a convoy of these, it would make it fairly economical as opposed to using a helicopter. Other uses can be replacing bong sniffing dogs at an airport, since if something does go off, PETA doesn't care if a robot gets destroyed.
15. Re:This is Awesome by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 11:04 · Score: 0
  
  And your car won't do so well when someone slashes its tires. What's your point?
16. Re:This is Awesome by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 11:10 · Score: 0
  
  Or some labors and VOTOMS
17. Re:This is Awesome by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 14:24 · Score: 0
  
  Tachikoma from GITS was pretty similar to this, they had articulated legs with wheels at the end
18. Re:This is Awesome by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 15:44 · Score: 0
  
  "bong sniffing" -- cheech?
19. Re:This is Awesome by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 16:12 · Score: 0
  
  Real Daleks don't need to climb stairs. They use their ray guns to EX-TER-MI-NATE the building – while standing in the middle of the ground floor, if necessary.
20. Re:This is Awesome by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 19:29 · Score: 0
  
  I was looking for this comment, you are too low, someone needs to spend some mod points here
21. Re:This is Awesome by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-02 07:43 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah, but how well can it play poker?
msmash cousin? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:09 · Score: 0

Bot, meet your robot overlord.
Daleks by Stonent1 · 2017-02-01 08:11 · Score: 3, Insightful

Daleks run on wheels, but they have a weakness, stairs. (Well except until they learned to levitate) Wheels need a flat surface whereas walking legs do not.
1. Re:Daleks by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:52 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Daleks run on wheels, but they have a weakness, stairs. (Well except until they learned to levitate)
  Wheels need a flat surface whereas walking legs do not.
  There is no reason robot can't "walk" on virtually any surface by locking wheels. It does have legs after all. Robot could be fitted with or carry interchangeable extra wheels suited for surfaces other than flat asphalt. Pressure inside wheels could be adjusted on the fly to better control traction and stability on rough terrain when needed.
2. Re:Daleks by chispito · 2017-02-01 09:14 · Score: 1
  
  Daleks run on wheels, but they have a weakness, stairs. (Well except until they learned to levitate) Wheels need a flat surface whereas walking legs do not.
  This could likely roll down a staircase, or up one, for that matter. Or walk up or down. It has all the freedom of movement required, it's just a matter of processing.
  
  --
  The Daddy casts sleep on the Baby. The Baby resists!
3. Re:Daleks by 140Mandak262Jamuna · 2017-02-01 10:09 · Score: 2
  
  It can plant its two for arms a few steps up and roll the wheel up, move one arm up a step, then the other arm, haul the wheels up a step ... I see this thing climbing stars with ease.
  
  --
  sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
4. Re:Daleks by tchdab1 · 2017-02-01 10:15 · Score: 1
  
  Why can't it walk on it's "hands"?
5. Re:Daleks by 605dave · 2017-02-01 10:34 · Score: 1
  
  That makes sense. I also thought they could lock the wheels. Or have a system where the wheel roles back to a normal foot like system.
  
  --
  Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a difficult battle. - Plato
6. Re:Daleks by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 10:48 · Score: 0
  
  It looks like it has the possibility of independent suspension (e.g., adjust both legs separately...). So balancing mode probably optimized for fore and aft motions. Making independent suspension is a matter of adding left-right motion too, which would be done through the legs.
  Imagine it putting one wheel out front and the other further back, now it's virtually skateboarding, too...
7. Re:Daleks by scatbomb · 2017-02-01 10:55 · Score: 1
  
  Why not turn the breaks on when climbing stairs and walk using the wheel as a foot? We can clearly see from the video that it can balance on those wheels. Why couldn't it walk on them?
8. Re:Daleks by Thelasko · 2017-02-01 10:57 · Score: 1
  
  This has legs and wheels. Presumably it could walk or jump up and down stairs.
  
  --
  One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
9. Re:Daleks by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 12:33 · Score: 1
  
  > Wheels need a flat surface whereas walking legs do not.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBOT
  There are versions of stair-climbing wheels that use three, rather than two wheels that don't require software control for proper operation. I've seen three-wheeled motorized wheelchairs on a couple of occasions.
10. Re:Daleks by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 23:27 · Score: 0
  
  Ever heard of motorcycle trials?
11. Re:Daleks by cmdr_klarg · 2017-02-02 02:00 · Score: 1
  
  Daleks run on wheels, but they have a weakness, stairs. (Well except until they learned to levitate)
  Wheels need a flat surface whereas walking legs do not.
  Real Daleks don't climb stairs. They level the building.
  
  --
  THE SOFTWARE, IT NO WORKY!!!
12. Re:Daleks by 140Mandak262Jamuna · 2017-02-02 03:26 · Score: 1
  
  They can lock/brake the wheels too. Then both fore arms can move up simultaneously.
  
  --
  sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
More Like Knightmare by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:13 · Score: 0

Just in time for Season 3 of Code Geass!
1. Re:More Like Knightmare by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:05 · Score: 0
  
  The word choice does make for an odd coincidence. Still, mechas are wasteful. Artillery is basically guns that move and wear varied armor. Tanks. Predator drones. Just meet the design objectives of Kill, Destroy. Actuated limbs are, as a rule, a waste and weakness. Specialized/All-purpose uses barely gets your foot in the door of argument, even without trying to justify a lobster'd human pilot.
Practical use: by Tablizer · 2017-02-01 08:13 · Score: 2

Me: "Boss, I'd like raise."
Boss: "Sorry, no budget this year."
Me: "My robotic friend back here wants a word with you..."
[*Lunge!*]
Boss: "Aaahhh! OK, OK! you gottit! Now get that thing outta here!"

--
Table-ized A.I.
1. Re:Practical use: by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:46 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Me: "Boss, I'd like a raise."
  Boss: "Why are you still here, we replaced all of you with robots. Get out of her before I call the policebot."
2. Re:Practical use: by Tablizer · 2017-02-01 08:54 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  ...
  Me: "Yes, but those are Microsoft robots. You'll need me again."
  
  --
  Table-ized A.I.
3. Re:Practical use: by Falos · 2017-02-01 08:55 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  Once again I submit my petition for +1 Depressing mod.
4. Re:Practical use: by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:45 · Score: 0
  
  "Yes, but those are Microsoft robots. You'll need me again."
  This, a thousand time this.
  Mod parent
  --
  You have the right to remain stupid!
5. Re:Practical use: by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:52 · Score: 1
  
  Then the boss gets replaced
Make it lethal by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:13 · Score: 4, Insightful

How long will it take until they will put a gun on it?
(And use it to control the population?)
1. Re:Make it lethal by ne1av1cr · 2017-02-01 08:47 · Score: 1
  
  Guns nothing, put swords on it.
2. Re:Make it lethal by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:02 · Score: 0
  
  I see your swords, and raise you chainsaws.
  captcha: grafted
3. Re:Make it lethal by Tablizer · 2017-02-01 09:04 · Score: 1
  
  How long will it take until they will put a gun on it?
  You're doin' it wrong. Laser-beams and a rubber shark-head
  
  --
  Table-ized A.I.
4. Re:Make it lethal by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:18 · Score: 0
  
  Groovy.
5. Re:Make it lethal by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:22 · Score: 0
  
  You don't think DARPA is funding this because they want the YouTube views, do you?
6. Re:Make it lethal by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 10:46 · Score: 0
  
  You're going to need to add D-Cups of Justice if you want a proper Barbeau-Bot
7. Re:Make it lethal by sheramil · 2017-02-01 11:14 · Score: 1
  
  Am I the only one thinking "MenschenJäger Mark Eins"?
8. Re:Make it lethal by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 17:48 · Score: 0
  
  I see your chainsaws and raise you an egg beater!
9. Re:Make it lethal by PJ6 · 2017-02-06 13:05 · Score: 1
  
  Guns nothing, put swords on it.
  That was the first thing I thought of. Wicked mantis-like slicers, and a zerg carapace.
Okaaaaay by JustAnotherOldGuy · 2017-02-01 08:19 · Score: 2

Yeah, that has the potential to peg my Creep-O-Meter.
If I met that thing in a darkened warehouse and it started coming for me I'd be shittin' me pants.

--
Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
1. Re:Okaaaaay by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:38 · Score: 0
  
  Until you realized they forgot to switch it out of sexbot mode. Yippee!!!!! Whoop whoop whoop!
2. Re:Okaaaaay by The-Ixian · 2017-02-01 08:38 · Score: 1
  
  Luckily, you just need a wheel chuck or just climb 1 stair to thwart this unstoppable beast...
  
  --
  My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
3. Re:Okaaaaay by jxander · 2017-02-01 08:53 · Score: 1
  
  Maybe ... it's got arms, so it might be able to drag itself up stairs.
  I couldn't really tell the full range of motion on the legs, but it's possible for the wheels to fold up, and it could run around on is "knees and hands" over really unstable terrain.
  
  --
  This signature is false.
4. Re:Okaaaaay by Tablizer · 2017-02-01 09:01 · Score: 1
  
  If I met that thing in a darkened warehouse and it started coming for me I'd be shittin' me pants.
  You ain't no Dr. Seuss.
  
  --
  Table-ized A.I.
5. Re:Okaaaaay by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:07 · Score: 0
  
  Did you watch the video? It jumped. And the wheel legs are independently extended. The programmers will have it walking up stairs in no time.
6. Re:Okaaaaay by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:37 · Score: 0
  
  God that's a horrifying visual
7. Re:Okaaaaay by djbckr · 2017-02-01 09:51 · Score: 1
  
  Nope, it jumps too (near the end of the video, it does quite a leap). I imagine it can walk on those wheels too, we just didn't see it.
Good marketing by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:22 · Score: 1

Usually when I consider if a purchase is worthwhile, my first question is: "Will this give me nightmares?"
Handle what? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:36 · Score: 0

Handle what? Knives? Swords? Throwing stars? Guns?
1. Re:Handle what? by magarity · 2017-02-01 09:02 · Score: 2
  
  Handle what? Knives? Swords? Throwing stars? Guns?
  A phased plasma rifle with a 40 watt range.
2. Re:Handle what? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:59 · Score: 0
  
  Just what you see, pal!
nightmare-inducing robot? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:42 · Score: 0

fuck this world is full of fucking retards
1. Re:nightmare-inducing robot? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 11:07 · Score: 0
  
  The fact that you thought that comment was worth posting shows that you're one of them.
Spinning leeks for growing interest by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:43 · Score: 0

I really wish they would stop calling it a "leaked" image or video when it was simply just released. "Leaked" makes you think ooh it was recorded by some spy who clandestinely shared the video to show you want evil BD has been up to! Instead, we come to realize it was just a BD released commercial trying to raise VC. Cool as the video may be, it wasn't a leak. There's no stopping the spin, I guess, so I will have to replace "leaked" with "released" in my mind but it's just a pet peeve like "I could care less" or asking who is "they".
Nightmares? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:44 · Score: 0

Meh. If you want to give slashdotters nightmares, make one that looks like Summer Glau....
Wouldn't it be cheaper... by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:52 · Score: 0

... and more useful just to give a two-legged robot a Segway?
1. Re:Wouldn't it be cheaper... by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:12 · Score: 0
  
  ... and more useful just to give a two-legged robot a Segway?
  
  Segways can't jump over two foot barriers.
pussies by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:03 · Score: 0

This is not nightmare-inducing.
THIS is:
https://saturn3makingof.com/photo-gallery/saturn-3-hectors-brain/
Wheelers by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:08 · Score: 1

Reminded me of the wheelers from Return to Oz for some reason...
1. Re:Wheelers by irving47 · 2017-02-01 09:10 · Score: 1
  
  You're not alone.
  
  --
  I had a sucky sig.
worse than what he did to those nice Mormon boys by Thud457 · 2017-02-01 09:52 · Score: 1

KEVIN!
STOP tormenting the robot.

--
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
And if you're lucky,son, ... by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:52 · Score: 0

... then someday you might get clean the robot that fixes that robot.
video is sped up. look at the guy walking by. by pezpunk · 2017-02-01 09:54 · Score: 1

...

--
i could live a little longer in this prison
Battletech by Torodung · 2017-02-01 09:55 · Score: 1

I want my Battlemech now. I'm going to get in line at the Apple Store tomorrow. This has to be brought to market.
Wheel Chair by Travco · 2017-02-01 10:01 · Score: 2

This thing will result in a mobility revolution for the disabled. Once it's in production and cost comes down. And.. Stairs will be no problem. it balances well enough that half a dozen different solutions should be available (a deploy-able post would be easy)
1. Re:Wheel Chair by Travco · 2017-02-01 10:05 · Score: 1
  
  Wheels rotate right and left. Wheels mechanically lock. Wheels rotate up
2. Re:Wheel Chair by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 22:18 · Score: 0
  
  Wheels on the bus go round and round.
"Bots: teh musical"! by Thud457 · 2017-02-01 10:02 · Score: 1

they're doing a revival of "Starlight Express"?

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the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
OK. Yes, I'm impressed. by blind+biker · 2017-02-01 10:08 · Score: 4, Interesting

On condition that that's not fake, that machine is positively badass. I have the most profound admiration for the technology that went into it, and the engineers that did this job.

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"The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
Re:video is sped up. look at the guy walking by. by Travco · 2017-02-01 10:11 · Score: 1

GIF is sped up. the video is at normal speed
Slashdot keeps reporting by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 10:33 · Score: 0

on this massive black hole of funding that is Boston Dynamics.
1. Re:Slashdot keeps reporting by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 11:17 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah! God damn those money-wasting robot building idiots! How dare they fritter away all that money building the kind of cool machines most of us only ever dreamed of as children? Crucifixion's too good for 'em!
Boston Dynamics, Bring Your A Game by LifesABeach · 2017-02-01 10:36 · Score: 0

Robots on wheels have been around for years. Does Boston Dynamics really care about Robotic Design? Is this the result of a group of H1B Zombies trying desperately to keep their jobs?

Boston Dynamics, your all a bunch of fucking smart asses; show this, "a walking robot that goes up/down stars carrying a feather duster and Shark vacuum. Then let the creative juices flow and have it dust and sweep the floors. Do you guys really care?
1. Re:Boston Dynamics, Bring Your A Game by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 11:51 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, I remember watching wheeled robots accelerate and jump over things... What is the point of your inane post?
2. Re:Boston Dynamics, Bring Your A Game by LifesABeach · 2017-02-04 08:44 · Score: 1
  
  That this was an excellent example of "Go back and try again, only this time get your head out of your ass and get into the game"
Useless by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 10:41 · Score: 0

It has wheels. Wheels re useless in combat.
1. Re:Useless by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 10:48 · Score: 0
  
  That's it boys, shitcan the entire mechanized infantry. AC has spoken, and alerted us to the errors of our ways..
That's it? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 14:14 · Score: 0

That's the extent of the nightmare? Jeeze. You get your news from the same place Hollywood gets its movies these days. All crap-stream.
Definition of Nightmare? by b783719 · 2017-02-01 14:21 · Score: 2

Looking at the headless shoulder, the empty arms and wheeled legs, it definitely has some creepy factors.
But DAMN, this thing does better than most robotic designs at moving around at high speed. Heck, it can even spins and jump!
All I'll need is a car shell and BAM! I'll have my own transformer! Nightmare => Best Dream Ever!
+1 to the Engineers.
GIF Timing [Re:video is sped up. look at the guy w by Tablizer · 2017-02-01 15:48 · Score: 1

GIF playback speed is inconsistent between browser brands and PC's in experience.
I suspect it's because although time between frames is standardized in the GIF standard, the frame render time adds additional implementation and hardware specific time gaps that are either not accounted for, or compensated for differently in diff browsers.
For example, in normal video playback, if the rendering can't keep up with the stated frame rate due to slow hardware or taxed CPU, frames may be partially or fully dropped to keep the average timing proper. Animated GIF's don't seem to do this; they just run slow.

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Table-ized A.I.
nightmare ! by bugs2squash · 2017-02-01 17:32 · Score: 1

Meh, it's no ED-209, looks more like something from Wallace and Grommet.

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Nullius in verba
Not Creepy - Horsey! by Dareth · 2017-02-02 04:45 · Score: 1

I saw the video on the page of it moving and jumping and I immediately thought about robotic horses. It could be so cute, every kid would want one.

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I only look human.
My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling
Really quite graceful by skidv · 2017-02-03 02:58 · Score: 1

I agree, it's really quite graceful. The pirouette reminded me of figure ice skaters.
Link to a youtube video for those interested:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
Be warned by easyTree · 2017-02-03 08:46 · Score: 1

Sarah Connor will rain on your parade once she gets back.

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Requiem for the American Dream