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 ...
What do people DO with themselves if they don’t go to Walmart?
Good one.
Zeke came by. He called first to ask if I had read his text, and I said I had just come in, and no. So I read the text. He wants to apply for a City Commissioner’s job and asked me to write up his qualifications.
We checked the other candidates, and three are already employed by the City of Las Vegas, so it may be that if Zeke is accepted, he will have to move because his income would disqualify him for public housing.
Needless to say, I’m really tired of all the petty politics in this place. If you do one thing for one person, you upset someone else. And it just keeps going. I want out. I can’t please anyone but me, and I don’t want to.
The mockers are starting early today. It’s hot and the wind is blowing and I’m tired of chasing these birds off my lawn. I want to invent a “bird-be-gone” solution that would make perching on my fence or gate as distasteful as possible.
But what smell would do that? Cat?
Dodge muggers in Central Park
Dodge cabs crossing the street on the way to anywhere
Watch for piles that dog owners left on the sidewalk while on the way to anywhere
Sit on a subway waiting for it to get moving since it's been stalled by something you don't know about because the speaker in your car announcing the problem isn't working
Stuff like that.
You don't want to please yourself? <blinking quizzicaly/>
Or just get a cat.
Yah, well, this has been a long day and I don’t know how to stop it from being any longer.
Challenge it to a “who can be shortest” contest.
Welp. That puts me out...5’9” unless I wear stilettos...
I’m going to give Kathleen a bath and then go to choir practice.
Because it is too much stuff. Of course it would be overwhelming.
We have a destitute family related in my actual home while we are away at work since last August. We’ll give them another 6 months or so, hopefully they saved. In any case not our responsibility.
We have two places in South Beverly Hills. Two buildings across from each other. We have one given us by work which has become a place to catch our breath or invite family over to visit or vacation.
The other place we are mostly at in BH also takes work.
We have to maintain the cleanliness of three places which still in possession of an 8 year old. He’s cute but messy.
My little guy loves to spread out his toys, laundry, and school stuff all over the places he goes.
He has three sets of toys at three different places.
Being our actual main home is occupied by a sister-in-law, we get no weekend or summer relief at all going there right now.
Easily 9+ loads of laundry a week. Seemingly 3 30 gallon trashbags or trash or more a week. Like you said, we also shred papers.
TIRING! I hear you 100%
Heh, I do that if we have a particularly dirty day.
In other news, Bill the Son just came in from his final shift at the grocery store deli. He's going hiking tomorrow, then taking the three-day weekend off before starting his new job on Tuesday.
So full of squee!
And so much news to read from yesterday/last night.
The mockingbirds found other places to mock at, so I was able to fall asleep shortly after 1830. But I really didn’t want to get up this morning, being Friday and all. *sigh*
There is so much to be done...
As soon as I post this, I’ll take a shower and maybe I’ll feel better when I come out. I will shred for at least an hour this morning, just to get something done. It will also give me a pathway to the bathroom and bedroom that is shorter than the one I currently have. :o|
Good morning! Bill is scurrying about getting ready to leave on his hiking expedition. He and some friends are going to Pisgah National Forest. He expects to be home tonight. James and I will go out for our walk after breakfast.
Elen is in a fuss because I made it clear that she’s not going to come back from camp three months from now to find every bit of her debris exactly where she left it. I’ve only been talking about the room reorganization since March, but she’s suddenly realized I mean it, and she’s leaving tomorrow.
Too bad, so sad. If I sell anything of hers, I’ll apply the proceeds against the $230 she owes us.
Thanks Bob
Good morning! I hope all this activity helps me to lose some weight, though I think it will come off “automatically” once I get moved.
And in that same vein, I got the 4th reference for the USDA application, so I will get it in the mail tomorrow. Or maybe later today. I made so many mistakes on it, they may not want to accept it. You know how the government views Wite-Out.
Who knows...that may be the incentive Elen needs to actually join the marines and head for boots. Somehow, when you talk about Elen and Sally, its almost as if they have been magically transformed in my mind into my daughter during those years, and the flashbacks are many and gruesome.
Is this new job of Bills a telemarketing job? Or a “real” job, as he defines it?
I will have to find my books. They are in one of two places. Unless my daughter borrowed them on the “No Return Plan,” as she is wont to do with anything of mine.
I’ll let you know.
If you sell anything use the proceeds to rent the bobcat to load what you don’t sell on the curb.
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