Four-legged robots

[Gem99ultra]

I just saw this, it's been out since this February.

Pretty fascinating robotics. Electronic controls with hydraulic actuators.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8YjvHYbZ9w



I bet it could be programmed for herding work among other uses.

... but, do they produce milk?

 

[MoKelly]

We are already prone to imparting personality traits to cars and tractors, imagine how we will think about a capable droid. Wars and such aside, in the future people are much more likely to interact frequently with androids in normal day-to-day settings. There is a powerful human tendency to look for human traits in other species and droids would fit into the idea of "other species" quite easily.

Have you seen the movie Chappie?

MoKelly

 

[k0ua]

I know it is silly but because the 'bots look and move at least marginally like a familiar life form, I find myself attaching "feelings" to them. So what happens when the robots are 2-3 times more realistic than those in the video and are costumed to better resemble a person or dog for examples? I think it could be mentally insidious, a theme that has been explored in sci-fi movies and books.

We are already prone to imparting personality traits to cars and tractors, imagine how we will think about a capable droid. Wars and such aside, in the future people are much more likely to interact frequently with androids in normal day-to-day settings. There is a powerful human tendency to look for human traits in other species and droids would fit into the idea of "other species" quite easily.

I think you are spot on.
We used to think this stuff was always way in the future, but we are moving fast.
"Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping into the future."

 

[dave1949]

Have you seen the movie Chappie?

MoKelly

Haven't. here is the movies teaser premise:
In the near future, crime is patrolled by a mechanized police force. When one police droid, Chappie, is stolen and given new programming, he becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself.

So, what happens to Chappie?

 

[newbury]

There was a recent PBS show concerning the "automation" of the retail space. One of the things emphasized was what it was going to do to jobs.
None of the promoters of robots would be interviewed concerning what it's going to do to the job market in major cities.

I think that 10% unemployment will be a fond memory. If an employee costs $60K per year with overhead and benefits it won't take much to have a robot do many essential tasks and reap a big cost savings. Have you ever heard of a robot suing for sexual discrimination?

Why employ people if robots can do their tasks?

There will be a new paradigm developed on what it means to be "gainfully employed".

 

[AaronS]

Sorry but I find that (and where it will/can lead) scary as heck.

 

[k0ua]

Interestingly a lot of those Boston dynamic videos show a human kicking the heck out of one of those 'bot's to demonstrate how stable footed they are. I wonder how long before one kicks back

 

[MoKelly]

Haven't. here is the movies teaser premise:
In the near future, crime is patrolled by a mechanized police force. When one police droid, Chappie, is stolen and given new programming, he becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself.

So, what happens to Chappie?

Sorry, I only saw the previews while waiting for Jussasic World to start.

MoKelly

 

[boggen]

computer chips are finally fast enough to deal with better robotics. remember being in school and some blah blah stating it will take x amount of years. for how fast computer chips would become and needing to handle huge of amounts of data fast enough.

at the time in school i though ya ya.. what ever hurry it up.... now 20 plus years later... i to got a little fear going in me, see those videos! it was exciting non the less!

question now is who will be the first few companies that break from the pack. and commercialize robotic dogs / horses / etc... as family pets!

guessing we are still a decent amount years away from more self trained robotics, with better orientation, and task solving ability.

 

[dave1949]

Interestingly a lot of those Boston dynamic videos show a human kicking the heck out of one of those 'bot's to demonstrate how stable footed they are. I wonder how long before one kicks back

I'll bet the programming geeks have put a few hidden "features" in the robot's repertoire of tricks. Like the "Easter Eggs" in other programmed units.

Intel and Micron just announced a new cpu + non-volitile memory chip architecture aimed at mobile devices. They claim it will give a 1000 fold increase in memory access time.