Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Do Swiss Roboticists Dream Of Electric Sheep?
I think they do. The Legged Robotics Team at ETH Zurich’s Autonomous Systems Lab started by trying to figure out how to reverse engineer a similar (but more trainable) creature, the dog.
Even though I think most Technovelgy readers are familiar with the advanced work done in this field by the American firm Boston Robotics, which created the BigDog robot, I think you'll like the analysis done in the legged robot video below.
(Legged robot research at ETH Zurich)
This projects aims towards the design and construction of an energy efficient robotic quadruped that is capable of various dynamic motions including fast walking, trotting, bounding, and galloping. The primary focus is the production of an actual mechanical prototype. The prototype and the associated control strategies will be developed so as to maximize dynamic performance while minimizing energy consumption. In particular, to make the system as energy efficient as possible, we intend to exploit natural, or passive, dynamics in ways that have been the focus of significant previous research and shown themselves to be effective in bipedal robots. The extension of the concept of passive dynamics to quadrupedal robots, and more importantly the actual realization of such a system, has to date received very little attention by other researchers. The principal parts of the project are:
- Developing simulation capabilities to aid design calculations and evaluate controller performance.
- The development of fundamentally new control strategies that incorporate the advantageous haracteristics of passive dynamics into an optimal controller with deadbeat attitude feedback.
- Designing, fabricating, and testing a mechanical prototype to evaluate controller stability, robustness, and performance.
Few animals survive in the future world of Philip K. Dick's 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. For status, many people have mechanical animals that are perfect mimics of their organic predecessors:
He ascended … to the covered pasture whereon his electric sheep "grazed." Whereon it, sophisticated piece of hardware that it was, chomped away in simulated contentment, bamboozling the other tenants of the building.
(Read more about Philip K. Dick's electric sheep)
Explore the themes and ideas from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. From Legged Robotics autonomous systems lab via Robohub.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 10/5/2012)
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 ( 0 )
Related News Stories - (" Robotics ")
Robot Gas Station Attendant Pumps Gas For You
'... he waited for the robotrix attendant to finish fueling up his ship.' - Philip K. Dick, 1974.
SnapBot Robots - You Choose Their Legs And They Choose Their Gaits
It's not really polite to tear the limbs off robots.
Humanoid Robots Building Humanoid Robots
''Pardon me, Struthers,' he broke in suddenly... 'haven't you a section of the factory where only robot labor is employed?'' - Isaac Asimov (1940)
What's The Best Way To Ship And Unpack Humanoid Robots?
'I opened the oblong box, where lay the automatons side by side...' - Elizabeth Bellamy, 1899.
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.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Nuclear Plant Restarted To Power AI To Feed Us Dreams
'...Anything was possible in my imaginary environment.'
SpaceX's Starman Tesla Roadster In Space
'Somewhere in space, a chrome and blue automobile raced the green light of Earth.'
Pivotal Blackfly Electric Aircraft Lifts And Hovers
'That explains how it was so easy for me to remain motionless in midair...'
CORLEO Robotic Horse Concept Looks Ready To Ride
Imagine digging your heels in to a steam horse!
Who First Thought Of A Tin Foil Hat?
'We had discovered that metal was relatively impervious to the telepathic effect.'
Warp Drive Tech Back On The Menu
'Detailed plans for the construction of the Gundstetter-Halone warp drive were flowing.'
Huawei Pura X Folding Phattie Phone
Why can't we get more innovative phone configurations?
Sleep Pods At Daxing International Airport
'Do not waste your priceless company on the unappreciative folds of a sleep pod...'
Robot Baristas Learn Their Trade Without Paying Royalties
'...so we've promised him a generous pension from the royalties.'
JAXA Int Ball 2 Coming Right Along As Star Wars Remote
'Hocus-pocus religions and archaic weapons are no substitute for a good blaster at your side.'
Robot Bricklayer Or Passer-By Bricklayer?
'Oscar picked up a trowel. 'I'm the tool for the mortar,' the little trowel squeaked cheerfully.'
Robot Gas Station Attendant Pumps Gas For You
'... he waited for the robotrix attendant to finish fueling up his ship.'
Engineer Creates Crazy Motorized Track Hospital Bed
The Roujin Z system provides care to fully bedridden patients - and then some!
Tiny Flying Robot Weighs Just One Gram
'Aerostat meant anything that hung in the air. This was an easy trick to pull off nowadays.'
Some Ringworld Configurations Are Stable
'The Ringworld had no horizon. There was no line where the land curved away from the sky.'
TRANSFORM Dynamic Furniture Concept Becomes What You Need
'An adjustment panel outside the door would cause it to extrude various appurtenances in memory plastic...'
