 |
ROPID Has Serious 'Quick', Good Hang Time
The coolest thing about the ROPID robot is that it has very quick movements, and can jump about a quarter of its own height straight up in the air. Developed by Tomotaka Takahashi of Robo Garage at Kyoto University, the little robot can even respond to voice commands.
ROPID has everything I used to look for when picking teammates for (highly competitive!) pick-up games in college. Quick movements (great "quick"), good leaper and struts just a bit while walking up to the court.
(ROPID has style, leaping ability)
Robots that are able to move quickly are really starting to come to the forefront. This is in contrast to the science fiction robots that I remember from my childhood. Every depiction of a robot in movies was a slow-moving device; not surprising, considering that each one had a person inside it.
In sf literature, robots could be faster. For example, the usuform robot bartender in Anthony Boucher's 1943 story Q.U.R. was just as fast as a person in manipulating a drink shaker.
More recently, of course, CGI movie robots have gotten quicker. Sonny, from the movie I, Robot, has great 'quick' - and he's quite a leaper.
Via Robot Watch.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 10/28/2009)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 3 )
Related News Stories - (" Robotics ")
X2-VelociRoACH Cooperates To Launch Tiny Drones
Little robots cooperating can do big tasks. Eventually.
An 'Ethical Black Box' For Robots?
Explored by science fiction authors.
Kino Project Roaming Personal Fashion Robots
'Most of the crew have the tiny imp ride on their shoulder...' - Robert Forward, 1985.
First Crewless Ship? Umm
Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship
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.
Current News
Will A Steel Umbrella Stop Russia?
'Everyone was aware that the damned platform was wandering around in its own orbit...'
EVE Artificial Womb For Lambs (For Now)
'In the crimson darkness, stewing warm on their cushion of peritoneum and gorged with blood-surrogate and hormones...'
TIKAD Armed Drone Ready To Fight
'Each a television eye and a sonic stunner...'
Bees Royal Jelly Helps Wounds Heal Faster
'An alien drug... used by an insect race.'
NASA Wants To Make Oxygen On Mars
'They plop down on the Red and if the dust is deep enough ... they burrow in...'
Hackers Insert Malware Into DNA
'They tied the memory to the bloodline and that was their record!'
X2-VelociRoACH Cooperates To Launch Tiny Drones
Little robots cooperating can do big tasks. Eventually.
'Do Not Pay' Chatbots To Replace Law Firm Associates?
'I want my lawyer program.'
MULTI Model Of Star Trek Turbolift
Cool prototype video!
A Look Into The Future Of Spacecraft!
Ever wonder how you look when you enter a new part of a spacecraft?
An 'Ethical Black Box' For Robots?
Explored by science fiction authors.
Dadbot Digital Immortality
'A hardwired ROM cassette replicating a dead man's skills...'
Should We Permit Computers To Create Their Own Language?
'Talk Between Robots radio...'
Breakthrough Starshot Sprites Yearn For Alpha Centauri
'Whoever launched it fired a laser cannon...'
Kino Project Roaming Personal Fashion Robots
'Most of the crew have the tiny imp ride on their shoulder...'
Astronaut Exercise Video, Predicted By SF Writers
'Joe got out the gravity-simulator harnesses.'
