Take a look at the walking style of the Little Dog robot in the following video, and tell me that robotic gaits haven't crossed the line into the uncanny valley.
(Little Dog robot video)
Japanese roboticist Masahiro Mori remarked in 1970 that, as robots resemble human beings more closely, they will be seen in a positive light. However, at a certain point of similarity, people become repulsed rather than attracted. This uncanny valley seems to be true for animal gaits as well.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 5/24/2010)
Pole-Dancing Stripperbot Robot
'Why, a clockwork dancer, or, better still, one that would go by electricity and never run down...' - Jerome K. Jerome, 1893.
DIY Robotic Content Farming
'The chief wheeled to the master machine and pressed a button.' - Schachner and Zagat, 1931.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!)
is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for
the Invention Category that interests
you, the Glossary, the Invention
Timeline, or see what's New.