Freakin' cool. Don't know why every blog I've seen it at calls it "spooky" though. Also, it sure ain't winnin' any awards for stealth...
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Wow... ok, that is pretty cool. It's ability to right itself instantly is amazing. However, one can't help but wonder how long it will take it to realize that it's creator is attempting to interfere with it's mission by intentionally throwing it off balance, and go mustang on him.
Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
Running on a two-stroke like that it certainly isn't stealthy...
Posted by bX (Member # 419) on :
Well I don't think stealth was a priority. You can make it quieter later. It's just amazing to me how well it's able to contend with terrain difficulties, obstacles and the occasional kick to the shoulder.
Posted by OverRon (Member # 2036) on :
That is impressive, all the previous robots I've seen have been very slow. Now if only they could start making bipeds that can move like that
Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
I don't know why people are so keen to build bipedal robots. Quadrupeds are faster, more stable, they can jump higher and fall from a greater height onto their legs without injuring them. If the 'bot needs hands, make it a centaur. This is supposed to be like a pack mule, carrying equipment and so on...I'd rather trust my $3m sensor package to a quadruped than a biped (Plus, it means more room to put shit - a biped is pretty much limited to a backpack and belt.)
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Bipeds aren't the most balanced creatures, in so many ways....
Posted by Mars Needs Women (Member # 1505) on :
I've this robot before on G4. Yeah it's pretty cool, but noisy as hell.
Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
For some reason the indoor shots have the thing much quieter. Without the whine you can hear hydraulics, and you see a lot of hoses hooked up from an overhead sling - I assume indoor they power him externally instead if internally so they don't have to listen to the noise, which I assume is a ... compressor?
Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
It sounds like a very high-revving two-stroke. Makes sense. The two-stroke would be powering a hydraulic pump of some kind to pressurize the system.
Posted by The Ginger Beacon (Member # 1585) on :
That and a two stroke will give you more power for less weight and maintainace, as well as quicker acceleration and better response time compared to a 4 stroke. Downside is it sounds like a hairdryer, has a shorter life, and emits more bad gasses than a fat guy eating mexican beans.
You could disconect the engine and run the hydraulics externaly, but I expect it would be a messy and lengthy job - you'd have to blead each line then re-pressurise it, ensuring no air got in. Plus it'd still need to lug a compresser around.
I expect production models might be powered by compressed air (like that French car), as well as diesel powered units. I can't think of a reliable substitute that would be useful in a combat area (as these will no doubt find their way into).
Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
Well, I bet they have more than one prototype. I mean, looking at the video, you have to assign a purpose to all those hoses coming out of the ceiling and the utter lack of loud buzzing. So maybe they have one permanently hooked up to an external source, and then one or more with a 2-stroke that they use outside the lab.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
(Plus, it means more room to put shit - a biped is pretty much limited to a backpack and belt.)