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Boston Dynamics unveils 'nightmare-inducing' hybrid robot (video)
theguardian.com ^ | Alex Hern

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 ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: allmvmebelongtous; google; koalaoil; molassesmiasma; monkeyfacerules; robocalypse; robotics; robotoverlords; undeadthread; undeadthreadhere
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To: ArGee

The district wants to see proof on paper. Sigh.

We can turn stuff in later, but you get a crown of poison ivy or something if all your documents are in order tonight. Also, you get all your t-shirts early, instead of on the first day of camp.

We’re doing some publicity at the church in the next week, and we’d like to get more boys signed up.


2,081 posted on 05/11/2017 1:53:58 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("We tend to retreat into cheap moralizing when economic realities become uncomfortable.")
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To: ArGee

No, something to do with my dad, but I don’t recall what... :o|


2,082 posted on 05/11/2017 2:09:06 PM PDT by Monkey Face (They'll all be sorry when I figure out how to breathe fire.)
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To: Tax-chick

I hope they aren’t too much later. I’m getting very tired. The traffic at the exit they need to take can be brutal this time of day, so I hope they don’t try to swim through it.

She said they were on the 515...that’s the LONG way around, and they will still have to face this exit...

I’ve had my pills and my yogurt, so I’m good for whatever comes. I think.


2,083 posted on 05/11/2017 3:09:14 PM PDT by Monkey Face (They'll all be sorry when I figure out how to breathe fire.)
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To: Tax-chick

2,084 posted on 05/11/2017 5:35:05 PM PDT by Cyber Liberty (H.L. Mencken: "The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule.")
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To: Cyber Liberty

Nice to see you and this attractive kitteh, who looks a lot like my Jake. Is he suggesting we all go to sleep now?


2,085 posted on 05/11/2017 6:23:18 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("We tend to retreat into cheap moralizing when economic realities become uncomfortable.")
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To: ArGee

Cubs now have to be trustworthy, loyal, etc. It changed two years ago. I composed a song so Frank could learn it. It uses the melody of “God is Bigger Than the Boogie-Man” (from Veggie Tales) and “Aleluya, Cantemos al Senor,” a well-known Spanish Mass piece.

“A Scout is trustworthy,
A Scout is loyal,
A Scout is helpful and friendly,
courteous and kind.
He is obedient, and he is cheerful.
A Scout is thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.”


2,086 posted on 05/11/2017 6:35:07 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("We tend to retreat into cheap moralizing when economic realities become uncomfortable.")
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A lot of work just to get a family portrait..
2,087 posted on 05/11/2017 10:50:44 PM PDT by NoCmpromiz (John 14:6 is a non-pluralistic comment.)
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To: Tax-chick; fanfan; ColdOne; Cyber Liberty; null and void; Anoreth; Monkey Face; ...

2,088 posted on 05/12/2017 3:38:41 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("We tend to retreat into cheap moralizing when economic realities become uncomfortable.")
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To: NoCmpromiz

I saw one that had a batch of puppies lined up on a board about 4 feet off the ground. They got the photo before any of the puppies was brave enough to jump off.


2,089 posted on 05/12/2017 3:39:41 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("We tend to retreat into cheap moralizing when economic realities become uncomfortable.")
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To: Cyber Liberty

Is that really YOU, CL???

YAY!


2,090 posted on 05/12/2017 4:20:05 AM PDT by Monkey Face (They'll all be sorry when I figure out how to breathe fire.)
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To: Monkey Face; Cyber Liberty

I feel like I should go on vacation so that Cyber Liberty can do kitten posts!

And good morning. I have various things to do today, but only Patrick and the catz are up.


2,091 posted on 05/12/2017 4:26:16 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("We tend to retreat into cheap moralizing when economic realities become uncomfortable.")
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To: Tax-chick

I’m here. I’ve had my shower and I’m going to have my steroid in a bit, because its Friday. And Friday the 13th falls on Saturday this month.

It’s going to be almost 90 today, and I’m ready for it.

My niece and her family stayed maybe 30 minutes, and then they had to leave. The reason for the visit was that her daughter is in a gymnastic (?) competition, so they are staying in a hotel on the Strip. Better they than moi.

(Not happy with Fridays.)


2,092 posted on 05/12/2017 4:57:25 AM PDT by Monkey Face (They'll all be sorry when I figure out how to breathe fire.)
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To: Tax-chick

I just have to get through the next three hours...Unngh.

My brother wants me to send him the genealogy file that is on the hard drive, but since the LDS Church went to FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com they no longer use the Personal Ancestry File, and it can’t even be downloaded.

Which means he will have to have Win 7 on his computer and install the PAF before he can even open the genealogy. I dunno. I think it would be a lot less trouble for me to get into my Win7 laptop and just print out the file for him, having him pay for the ink.


2,093 posted on 05/12/2017 5:03:16 AM PDT by Monkey Face (They'll all be sorry when I figure out how to breathe fire.)
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To: Monkey Face

Gymnastics competition is a big thing. We plan to go to the gym this morning, before the trip to the coast (DP, Bill, Elen) leaves.

Good luck with your morning. At least you’ll be warm!


2,094 posted on 05/12/2017 5:15:06 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("I prefer to think of myself as ... civilized." ~Jonathan Q. Higgins)
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To: Tax-chick

I got a kick out of my brother yesterday. He called after talking to the wife of the “new” cousin on the Colonia Juarez side, and when I answered the phone, he said, “Say ‘hello’ to your brother.” Well, he’s always been my brother, and somewhere inside I knew that before it was ever even a rumor. I told him that when I lived in Del Rio, I ran into a Juarez cousin in Kmart. Small world.

So. Anyway. Here I go to read another few pages in “Journey,” and then I will email him.


2,095 posted on 05/12/2017 5:27:24 AM PDT by Monkey Face (They'll all be sorry when I figure out how to breathe fire.)
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To: Monkey Face

Nothing so interesting in my family!

Have a nice morning if you possibly can. Remember you’re Pioneer Tough!


2,096 posted on 05/12/2017 5:28:55 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("I prefer to think of myself as ... civilized." ~Jonathan Q. Higgins)
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To: Tax-chick

If I could only get back into my personal history...

Anyway, the day will be about as good as I can make it.

One of my grandfathers was a Colonel in the “Mormon Battalion,” and he had a wife in Canada and one in Mexico, and each one had 10 children. That may explain why we have so many cousins...

I believe my next reading will be the “History of the Mormon Battalion in the Mexican War.” (I got worn out just trying to say that.)


2,097 posted on 05/12/2017 5:52:42 AM PDT by Monkey Face (They'll all be sorry when I figure out how to breathe fire.)
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To: Monkey Face
That may explain why we have so many cousins.

Yep, I think it would!

Been to the gym, took a shower. The next commitment is about 1:30 to put an insert in the church bulletin for the Cub Scouts. That will take less than an hour, with a full crew of conscript labor. Then we'll take Sally over to Jamie's to babysit in exchange for a new hair color.

2,098 posted on 05/12/2017 8:24:00 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("I prefer to think of myself as ... civilized." ~Jonathan Q. Higgins)
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To: Tax-chick

I told my brother he could always hyphenate his last name! Haha! I’m just full of happy things today!

He has decided he doesn’t want the genealogy “that bad.” If I had the 5-generation sheets, I’d make up a hard copy for him.


2,099 posted on 05/12/2017 8:32:12 AM PDT by Monkey Face (They'll all be sorry when I figure out how to breathe fire.)
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To: Monkey Face

I switch names back and forth. It confuses people!


2,100 posted on 05/12/2017 8:43:07 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("I prefer to think of myself as ... civilized." ~Jonathan Q. Higgins)
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