[kscherer]

Thought I would start a new thread celebrating robotics. Anything and everything robotic.

I saw this today and it brought a smile to my face.

I have been watching the progress of Boston Dynamics for several years, and they are humming along with some very cool stuff. These characters used to be tethered to power sources, but now they are "on their own" and I love it!

[pscates2.0]

At first I thought the song was added after-the-fact. But when they went to the mashed potato/twist part, they were doing it. Yeah, that's pretty awesome. The movements were pretty smooth and lifelike, more than I was aware things had gotten to. That was a bit of an eye-opener for me. Imagine just 10 short years from now. 20?

That is both cool and a bit terrifying, frankly...

These things are going to kill the shit out of us at some point, guaranteed.

I just hope they have the good manners - and sense of humor - to go after James Cameron first.

[kscherer]

Oh, no. That guy is probably pulling the strings. He's gonna have the last laugh!

[Ryan]

Honest question: has Boston Dynamics done anything with their robots yet besides release videos?

[kscherer]

I don't think so.

But proofs of concept take a minute or two to work out, no?

[Anonymous Coward]

This is not exactly robotics. Sometimes it is applicable and sometimes not, but does anyone else have an Adabox subscription? Electronics kits, usually once every three months. Not as involved as the average Heathkit, but more on theory and learning rather than paint-by-numbers assembly.

[drewprops]

I would have enjoyed something like that when I was younger. It's hard now to make brain work!

By the way, earlier this month Hyundai bought controlling interest in Boston Dynamics, leading their products all that much closer to real world applications.

Like robot dogs with arms for heads that will come and get you!!!


...

[Dr. Bobsky]

The song was clearly added in post, it's relatively simple to program the robots to hit certain cues on a time line in time with the music...

[kscherer]

Originally Posted by Dr. Bobsky The song was clearly added in post, it's relatively simple to program the robots to hit certain cues on a time line in time with the music...

I'm quite sure you are correct. But it is still cool as hell!

[pscates2.0]

Originally Posted by Dr. Bobsky The song was clearly added in post, it's relatively simple to program the robots to hit certain cues on a time line in time with the music...

Well, not knowing anything about such things, interesting. To be clear, I didn't think they, intelligently and on their own, knew when to do the Mashed Potato and Twist. I'm not that clueless. But they definitely did a recognizable version of those moves, in a way more convincing/fluid than I ever could.

I thought the music might've been added after the fact, only because it was so clear/balanced and didn't fluctuate or "tunnel" with the camera movement, as it would've had it been playing on a speaker there in the room somewhere.

Still, the timing was nice.

There's still gonna kill us all, so, big picture, I really don't give a shit how well they dance.

[PB PM]

I can just imagine how much money they wasted programing the dance moves into the robot. If I was an investor, I'd be pissed.

Now when can I get my robo puppy to bring me a taco?

[kscherer]

Soon, my friend, soon!