Here’s a cool video of the Little Dog Robot, kid sibling of the
Big Dog Robot that
wowed the blogosphere last week. Also a product of Boston Dynamics
“LittleDog is a quadruped robot for research on learning
locomotion. Scientists at leading institutions use LittleDog to
probe the fundamental relationships among motor learning, dynamic
control, perception of the environment, and rough terrain
locomotion.”
“LittleDog has four legs, each powered by three electric motors.
The legs have a large range of motion and workspace. The motors are
strong enough for dynamic locomotion, including climbing. The
onboard PC-level computer does sensing, actuator control and
communications. LittleDog’s sensors measure joint angles, motor
currents, body orientation and foot/ground contact.”
Also be sure to check out this newer Big Bog Robot video (below
the fold):
Check out this awesome new airbag-suit by motorcycle gear
designer Dainese:
Dainese is set to release the suit by 2010 – a full 10 years
after development of the system began.
Just imagine the implications of such a suit for all types of
extreme sports – skiing, mountain-biking, hang-gliding – and what
such a suit might look like by 2015. I can imagine people
surrounded by giant marshmallows or beach balls engaging in all
sorts of activities that were previously too risky.
Ever since I bought an iRobot vacuum Roomba (it works very
well in most rooms), I’d been wondering when someone would build
one that works outside buildings as a window washer. Therefore I
was psyched to discover not one, but two such prototypes during my
latest foray through the wonderful world of YouTube.
The first one is the cooler looking of the two and has been in
testing for a few months. It’s an experimental model created at the
University of Nebraska and actually sticks itself to the glass. See
for yourself (but turn down the volume a little as the sound of the
motor is a bit annoying):
The second robot is a more serious industrial machine that
appears to be much closer to hitting the commercial market.
Here’s an awesome video montage illustrating the late great
Arthur C. Clarke’s uncanny space predictions. It goes to show how
much the world needs great sci-fi minds for critical scenario
construction so that we may build and live into our dreams.
Along the way to cheaper, energy-efficient Organic Light Emitting
Diode (OLED) surfaces, there’s a window of opportunity for
technologies like regular LED and Electro-Luminescent
(EL) signage. If mega-rapper Kanye is any
indicator, then the
flashing LED suit that he wore at
this year’s Grammy Awards will
become all the rage as it drops in cost.
One company poised to take advantage this technology in the
near-term is Australian LED and EL
product manufacturer Ozibadge. They’re already selling
dynamic EL signage, crazy LED belt
buckles, and flashing EL t-shirts. Take a look at this promotional
video to get a sense of the items just on the verge of exploding
into the environment around you:
Get ready, because all of the obnoxious trend-setting children
in your neighborhood will very soon be following in role-model
Kanye’s footsteps.
Check out this awesome car/pod prototype that carries up to
three passengers and can pivot on a dime to change directions. I
recall seeing concept drawings of this and thought it was still a
year or two in the future, so I was surprised to come across this
video of a functional, albeit slow, version of the product.
For the life of me, I can’t recall which company is behind this
elegant weird new car. Does anyone know who’s producing this
totally new approach to transport and when I’ll be able to rent one
in NYC?
Check out this video-list of the hundreds of video games
scheduled for release in 2008 and 2009. It really makes you realize
just how much bigger an industry gaming is compared to film. Each
of these suckers costs tens of millions to make and requires
hundreds of producers, developers, artists, actors, lawyers,
translators and golfers.
The games on the list that I’m most psyched for include: Spore,
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, Highlander, Warhammer Online, Grand Theft
Auto IV, God of War III and Red Dead
Revolver II. As far as I’m concerned, they just can’t produce these
fast enough.
Enjoy the list and the funny music that it’s set to.
Here’s a borderline creepy image for you: robotic snakes. These
twisty machines have already been around for a few years, but only
now have researchers created one that can move by pushing itself off objects in its path.
Hailing from Norway’s University of
Science and Technology , this snake represents a significant
break-through because it’s the first wheel-less one of its kind.
(check out the video
here) Success at this level will eventually lead to space-based
applications or help it successfully root troubling clogged
drains.
A snake such as this might also be used as a rodent scourge or
even on battlefields that resemble giant versions of the TV Show
Robot
Wars .
And just imagine what it could do if equipped with lasers. ;) Or
poison.
Undoubtedly this type of robot will be useful for a variety of
common and odd tasks that we meme-monkeys are just not well-suited
for. Once again, bend nature’s design to our will.
What other practical uses could you imagine for a robot snake
that can move like a real snake?
that can move by pushing itself off objects in its path.
