Posted on 02/28/2017 7:23:43 AM PST by RoosterRedux
Google-owned robotics firm and “nightmare” factory Boston Dynamics has released video of its latest creation: a two-wheeled, four-legged hybrid robot named Handle.
The robot can stand on four legs, like Boston Dynamics’ previous creations such as BigDog and Spot. But at the end of its back two legs are two stabilised wheels, which let it stand up vertically and roll around at speeds of up to nine miles per hour. Think “Terminator riding on a hoverboard” and you’ll have a pretty good idea of the impression Handle gives off.
Boston Dynamics says the reason for the hybrid design is the simplicity it affords: rather than needing the complex joints of the fully-quadrupedal bots, Handle’s wheels can speed it around with little difficulty, while its front legs can be used for balance and for carrying loads of up to 50kg.
“Handle uses many of the same dynamics, balance and mobile manipulation principles found in the quadruped and biped robots we build,” Boston Dynamics said, “but with only about 10 actuated joints, it is significantly less complex. Wheels are efficient on flat surfaces while legs can go almost anywhere: by combining wheels and legs, Handle can have the best of both worlds.” The video does not, however, show Handle walking rather that scooting around on its wheels.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
My apology on the machines comment. I would love to have an autographed copy of any of your books.
‘Face, present and accounted for.
That floofy’s eye are almost as pale as it’s coat.
It’s 80 degrees outside. This is like summer. It had to have been 100 yesterday, because the A/C ran most of the afternoon. Looks like we’re having two seasons this year — winter and summer.
There is another ream of paper on the floor, waiting to be sent through the shredder. And I’ll be trying to go through two more boxes today. Then the fun begins: labeling it all.
Good morning. Enjoy your shredding! Jake would shred for you.
It’s chilly here, but not as cold as it was when James and I went out around 7:30. Elen wants me to take her shopping, because her bathing suit was stolen on her camping trip, so now she doesn’t have one.
I’ve emptied out another box, sorta. The hanging files are in there, which I need, but now I’m stuck trying to think of how I can label the files. I have several sheets of blank address labels which I can cut in half lengthwise, and it will serve, but eventually, I’ll have to get more labels.
The pile to be shredded is growing. I also have a lot of magazines (Astronomy and the odd crochet/handcraft) that I don’t want to throw out, so I will take my name off and put them in the donations pile. Which is growing weekly. When I get enough stuff to warrant a truck to pick it up, I’ll call them.
And so, back to the grindstone.
Oh, yes. This is the worst year for mockingbirds I’ve ever experienced, and they all seem to think my patio fence and gate are the places to be, especially at bedtime (1800 - ??) and early morning.
I open the security door to shoo them off, but they sit in the tree and mock me. And then they come back to repeat the performance. Hmpf.
Good gravy! Have I been THAT AWOL?
I came by to share these gems for anyone who lives in desert country.
Having visited my grandmother in Phoenix in July I understand most of these.
You Know You’re In Arizona When ….
You think Taco Bell is the local phone company.
You notice your car overheating before you drive it.
You no longer associate bridges or rivers with water.
You can hear the weather forecast of 115 degrees without flinching.
You can be in the snow, then drive for an hour...and it will be over 100 degrees.
You discover, in July it only takes two fingers to drive your car, because your steering wheel is so hot.
The best parking is determined by shade.....not distance.
You run your air conditioner in the middle of winter so you can use your fireplace.
You realize that “Valley Fever” isn’t a disco dance.
You can make sun tea instantly.
Hotter water comes from the cold water tap than the hot one.
It’s noon in July, kids are on summer vacation and yet all the streets are totally empty of both cars and people.
You actually burn your hand opening the car door.
Sunscreen is sold year round and kept right at the checkout counter.
You put on fresh sunscreen just to go check the mail box.
Some fools will market mini-misters for joggers and some other fools will actually buy them. Worse.....some fools actually try to jog.
You can pronounce Saguaro, Tempe, San Xavier, Canyon de Chelly, Mogollon Rim, and Cholla.
You can understand the reason for a town named “Why”
You can fry an egg on the hood of a car in the morning.
You know hot air balloons can’t rise because the air temperature is hotter than the air inside the balloon.
No one would dream of putting vinyl inside a car.
You see two trees fighting over a dog.
You can say “Hohokam” and people don’t think you’re laughing funny.
You see more irrigation water on the street than there is in the Salt River
You have to go to a fake beach for some fake waves
You hear people say “but it’s a dry heat!”
You buy salsa by the gallon.
Your Christmas decorations include sand and l00 paper bags.
You think a red light is merely a suggestion.
All of your out-of-state friends start to visit after October but clear out come the end of April.
You think someone driving wearing oven mitts is clever.
Most of the restaurants in town have the first name “El” or “Los.”
You think 60 tons of crushed red rock makes a beautiful yard.
Your house is made of stucco and has a red clay tile roof.
Vehicles with open windows have the right-of-way in the summer.
Most homes have more firearms than people.
Kids ask, “What’s a mosquito?”
People who have black cars or black upholstery in their car are automatically assumed to be from out of-state or nuts.
You know better than to get into a car with leather seats if you’re wearing shorts.
If you haven’t worked for Motorola at some time, you must be a newcomer.
You can finish a Big Gulp in 10 minutes and go back for seconds.
You know a swamp cooler is not a happy hour drink.
You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Arizona.
You take rain dances seriously.
You’ve signed so many petitions to recall governors you can’t remember the name of the incumbent.
When a rainy day puts you in a good mood.
When you drive two miles around a parking lot looking for a shady place - even in the dead of winter.
You feed your chickens ice cubes to keep them from laying hard-boiled eggs.
You “hug” a cactus only once in your lifetime.
When you have to look up “mass transit” in the dictionary.
A hundred ten in the shade is sorta hot, but you don’t have to shovel it off your driveway.
You wear a bola tie.
You take a stroll on Ho Hum Way.
The beer is chilled and filled with chili.
A haboob happens.
Petrified doesn’t mean scared.
Standin’ on the corner sounds good.
The temperature drops below 95 and you feel a bit chilly.
You’ve experienced condensation on your butt from the hot water in the toilet bowl.
You would give anything to be able to splash cold water on your face.
You can attend any function wearing shorts and a tank top.
You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
I’m adding one:
You see a dog chasing a cat and they’re both walking.
Howya. I’m reading a book about New York persons: “Primates of Park Avenue.” Weird stuff.
Mockingbirds are very numerous here, too, although only Tom and Mrs. Tom come to our feeder. We have three male cardinals, though. I think maybe Bill had some sons.
Yea, all of those, at least once! LOL!
The stack to be shredded is now about two reams high, and the A/C just turned on. *sheesh* It’s not even 0900!!!
After a cursory glance, I think I’ve found enough printed genealogy to compile and send to my brother, though now I will have to find a nice loose leaf binder to put it in. It will be close to 3” thick or more.
I also found what there was on my first husband’s (my son’s father) line, so I can let him know I have it. This getting to be more like a treasure hunt than a weed-out. I have another box almost filled with folders that have been sorted, but this is just a cursory sort.
This time next week, I may be able to take a day’s break and then start on the yarn sorting.
CFIDS is so ugly. I’ve found CFIDS information sheets, booklets and magazines in at least five places. The only reason for that is because CFIDS was dictating my life at the time I filed the stuff. :o[
Oh wow, yeah moving is always a lot of work with all kinds of emotions attached. Very draining in every way.
I’ll give you a hint....... you might find some unsuspecting friend and give some of it away. My close friend unexpectedly sold her house and started giving away stuff “too good to throw away”
She gave me a copy of a deed dated 1775. It nearly drove me crazy because one point on the deed is nearly within site of where I live. My research continues after nearly 5 years. these are three of my articles resulting from that “gift”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Path_Grant_Deed
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Path_Grant_Deed
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Brown_Grant_Deeds
I need to update my to-do list. And I need to make contact with a local printer.
They can’t possibly convey the half of it.
But one of the things that REALLY cracks me up in this city is the Popeye’s in Chinatown. You see ethnic Chinese people wearing shirts that say, “Popeye’s Cajun Kitchen.”
Where else but NYC?
Since I knew I would be moving early last year, I’ve stockpiled boxes and some storage tubs and when I changed out my winter clothes for summer ones a month ago, I found more things to donate.
So far, I have four boxes packed and two storage tubs, and though I’m not moving until October, my stamina and cognitive abilities are only good for five or six hours. After that, I have to quit or suffer from frustration, which upsets my body. (CFIDS, y’know.)
So it’s all good. I just don’t want to move stuff that isn’t necessary.
My brother, who thought he was the child of my mother’s first husband, was told 17 years ago that he was actually the child of her second husband: My dad. He was SO in denial! Just recently, he admitted to being my full sibling and I told him that my heart had always known it.
So I wanted to get into the laptop with Win7 on it because that has the genealogy program on it. I forgot the password. I don’t know how to get into it to change the password, so I was frustrated.
His birthday is in August and I want to give the genealogy to him. He said he wasn’t changing his name, and I told him he could hyphenate it or use it as a middle name...
Anyway, this afternoon, I will shred...the pile is bigger than I am. ;o]
I expect the women of the Upper East Side would find lives in suburban Boring just as alien.
Certainly they’d find Wal-Mart just as alien.
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