Beware of Skynet. It starts with a clothing tester, then a treadmill runner. Next thing you know, we have terminators. Make sure you stay near a building with a big hydraulic press and a white-hot vat of molten metal.
Just in case.
This video is not new, but it may be new to you.
Army robot does calisthenics
Posted on Wed, 10/28/2009 – 06:24 by Emma Woollacott
The US Army is ordering bipedal robots that can walk and crawl like a human, in order to test chemical protection clothing.
The Petman robot, under development by Boston Dynamics, is roughly the size and shape of a real human. It can balance itself and walk freely – albeit with a motion reminiscent of someone on the way to the bathroom and not sure if they’ll make it in time. It can also simulate human body temperature and sweating.
Previous test devices had to be supported mechanically and had a limited repertoire of motion; but, says Boston Dynamics, “Petman will balance itself and move freely; walking, crawling and doing a variety of suit-stressing calisthenics during exposure to chemical warfare agents.” Now, that’s what we call grace under fire.
The robots will be delivered in 2011.
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Now they’re on to the next generation:
Cheetah military robot can outrun human beings
Posted on Mon, 02/28/2011 – 05:31 by Kate Taylor
The Cheetah robot is modeled on its namesake, with four legs, a flexible spine and an articulated head and neck – it may or may not have a tail, says the company.
The company says that not only will it be faster than any human being, but that it will be faster than any existing legged robot too. It will be able to make tight turns and accelerate rapidly – ‘starting and stopping on a dime’, the company says.
Based on the same control software and mechanical and electric systems as the company’s other robots, Boston says the robot will be able to use momentum to bridge gaps, for example throwing or swinging itself from one set of handholds or footholds to the next.
Meanwhile, the humanoid Atlas robot will get about mainly on two legs, although it will also be able to use its hands for support and balance.
“Unlike Honda’s Asimo and most other humanoid robots you’ve seen, Atlas will walk just like a man, using a head-to-toe walking motion, long strides and dynamic transfer of weight on each step, says Rob Playter, Atlas principal investigator and vice president of engineering.
“We have already achieved some advanced behavior in Petman, an anthropomorphic robot we developed for the Army, so Atlas can get a leg up on the problem by leveraging the Petman results.”
The company says that both robots will have applications beyond the military, such as in emergency response situations and advanced agriculture.
Thinkwing Radio with Mike Honig 