Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Robot Staggers, But Is Still Standing
Sarcos has been making its robots harder to knock over. I'm a little concerned; I thought I could overcome the inevitable robot uprising by simply shoving them over.
(SARCOS robot stands on his own two feet, even under duress)
The robot shown in the video was created by Sarcos (a US firm); the software to help it stay upright was developed in Japan by researcers at the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology.
The ability to "rebalance" itself should give robots additional abilities to move with human beings in crowds, by helping the bot overcome the usual jostling in queues, elevators and sidewalks.
The software makes use of sensors located in the joints of the robot; as the center of mass of the robot is affected, the software calculates how much additional effort is required to stay upright. The force is exerted through the robot's feet into the ground; the ankles flex to maintain balance (just like yours do).
A really hard shove results in "staggering," which is another word for repeated stabilization efforts.
Robot enthusiasts might also remember that the cool BigDog robot is also able to resist a good swift kick in the hindquarters, rebalancing itself and moving forward smartly. You can see the researcher test the robot about thirty seconds into the video.
(BigDog robot remains standing even when kicked)
Update 09-Dec-2007: Several readers suggested Malfunctioning Eddie as a possible candidate for an sfnal match for this robot.
(Malfunctioning Eddie from Futurama)
Malfunctioning Eddie is also an excellent example of a real-life sales robot. Thanks to Eric Nodacker for sending in the picture. End update.
Via Flexible-jointed robot is no pushover.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 12/7/2007)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 1 )
Related News Stories - (" Robotics ")
DIY Robotic Content Farming
'The chief wheeled to the master machine and pressed a button.' - Schachner and Zagat, 1931.
Vero Robotic Dog With Vacuum Cleaner Feet
'Out of warrens in the wall, tiny robot mice darted.'
Boy Makes Biomimetic Turtle Robot
't came out into plain view. Darkington glimpsed a slim body and six short legs of articulated dull metal.'
Origin F1 Humanoid Robot's Facial Skin
'I could look down at that face of carefully molded synthetic rubber, tinted the exact shade of the doctor's living flesh.' - Rog Philips, 1950.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Tentacled Robot Captures Space Debris
Preventing annoying space debris build-up.
Prufrock-MB2 Ready In Nashville
'It sounds to me as though you had invented a kind of metal earthworm.'
DIY Robotic Content Farming
'The chief wheeled to the master machine and pressed a button.'
Reflect Orbital Sunlight On Demand
'I don't have to tell you about the seven two-mile-diameter orbital mirrors that circulate around the satellite, making it habitable.'
The Amazing Lightfoot Electric Scooter With Solar Assist
'The steel tortoise gave MacKinnon a feeling of Crusoe- like independence.'
Fully Electric, Fully Automated Vegetable‑growing Agribots
'...then back to their work, though little enough it was on these automatic cultivators.'
Vero Robotic Dog With Vacuum Cleaner Feet
'Out of warrens in the wall, tiny robot mice darted.'
AI Operates An Excavator
'So far as I could see, the thing was without a directing Martian at all.'
US Army IBEX Exoskeleton Walks Troops Out Of Danger
'The suit stands up and starts walking, gripping me round the calves and waist, taking the bulk of my weight off my throbbing feet.'
Boy Makes Biomimetic Turtle Robot
't came out into plain view. Darkington glimpsed a slim body and six short legs of articulated dull metal.'
Elon Musk Wants Data Centers In Space
'Internally it’s made up of millions of components, but the most important ones are the thinking and memory parts of the Mind proper.'
Origin F1 Humanoid Robot's Facial Skin
'I could look down at that face of carefully molded synthetic rubber, tinted the exact shade of the doctor's living flesh.'
Grok And The City Fathers From 'Cities In Flight' By James Blish
'Chris, the City Fathers are not interested in your welfare; I suppose you know that. They're interested in only one thing: the survival of the city.'
Why Not Move A Warehouse District?
'Did you never see a moving house before?'
Will An AI Found A New Religion?
'You must decide how you will worship Me.'
Terraformer Industries Make Methane
'Drake was the young spatial engineer he employed to terraform the little rock...'
