A new version of Atlas, designed to operate outdoors and inside buildings. It is specialized for mobile manipulation. It is electrically powered and hydraulically actuated. It uses sensors in its body and legs to balance and LIDAR and stereo sensors in its head to avoid obstacles, assess the terrain, help with navigation and manipulate objects. This version of Atlas is about 5' 9" tall (about a head shorter than the DRC Atlas) and weighs 180 lbs

Incredible stuff

DoctorE wrote::thumbup:
A new version of Atlas, designed to operate outdoors and inside buildings. It is specialized for mobile manipulation. It is electrically powered and hydraulically actuated. It uses sensors in its body and legs to balance and LIDAR and stereo sensors in its head to avoid obstacles, assess the terrain, help with navigation and manipulate objects. This version of Atlas is about 5' 9" tall (about a head shorter than the DRC Atlas) and weighs 180 lbs

I wonder just how many generations before the robot puts down the package and takes out the guy who keeps bothering him.

It's so lifelike the guy with the stick almost comes across as cruel.

Animavore wrote:It's so lifelike the guy with the stick almost comes across as cruel.

That robot must have the "turn the other cheek" programming but I suspect someone is working on the "kill or be killed" rev..

Well his legs are too short to kick you in the nuts, but he could mash your mellon with those flat hand attachments.

Mash your melon -- euphemism?

Animavore wrote:It's so lifelike the guy with the stick almost comes across as cruel.

That was how I reacted with Big Dog. Seeing him flailing around on ice made me feel sad.

These robots are never going to work unless they can destroy all empathy towards them. Otherwise, we'll see them lifting something heavy and immediately go in with "oh, let me get that for you!"

But yeah. This is fucking incredible sci-fi awesome.

laklak wrote:Mash your melon -- euphemism?

That, and a bit of alliteration.

Animavore wrote:It's so lifelike the guy with the stick almost comes across as cruel.

We have no idea how the information in that robot feels as it's being kicked around that way.

Here's Max's idea.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GzCvlFRISIM

John Platko wrote:We have no idea how the information in that robot feels as it's being kicked around that way.

Maybe it feels like "AWSUM! THIS BORING BOX PICKING UP PROBLEM JUST GOT INTERESTING!"

As someone with a masters in AI, I can confirm that all AIs talk internally in all-caps.

VazScep wrote:

John Platko wrote:We have no idea how the information in that robot feels as it's being kicked around that way.

Maybe it feels like "AWSUM! THIS BORING BOX PICKING UP PROBLEM JUST GOT INTERESTING!"

As someone with a masters in AI, I can confirm that all AIs talk internally in all-caps.

I don't want to tell you how to do your business, but isn't it a bit inefficient for a computer to "talk internally" in any alphanumeric representation, all caps or otherwise.

John Platko wrote:

VazScep wrote:

John Platko wrote:We have no idea how the information in that robot feels as it's being kicked around that way.

Maybe it feels like "AWSUM! THIS BORING BOX PICKING UP PROBLEM JUST GOT INTERESTING!"

As someone with a masters in AI, I can confirm that all AIs talk internally in all-caps.

I don't want to tell you how to do your business, but isn't it a bit inefficient for a computer to "talk internally" in any alphanumeric representation, all caps or otherwise.

We tried having their internal monologues all done in smilies, but we just couldn't take the damn things seriously.

Here's Spot -

John Platko wrote:
I don't want to tell you how to do your business, but isn't it a bit inefficient for a computer to "talk internally" in any alphanumeric representation, all caps or otherwise.

That's a weird swing. You go from wondering how the computer feels to talking about efficiency.... Isn't it a bit inefficient for a computer designed for walking about and picking up boxes to feel anything?

Efficiency is task-dependent. If we're building computers to interact with humans, then internal monologues may become efficient. If nothing else, a suitably entertaining internal monologue would help a robot deal with inefficient feelings about the squishy idiots who insist on bossing it around.

Here is Spot. Here is a machine gun.

See Spot run.
Run Spot. Run!
See Spot neutralise enemy targets.
Neutralise enemy targets, Spot, neutralise enemy targets!

You think those guys are MechWarrior fans?

Mazille wrote:You think those guys are MechWarrior fans?

Anyone working in AI is planning to take over the world. Robots, super intelligent virus, skynet, whatever.

Obviously.
I was just thinking that a bulky bipedal robot in roughly human shape by that name would be too much of a coincidence to not be MW inspired.

Mazille wrote:Obviously.
I was just thinking that a bulky bipedal robot in roughly human shape by that name would be too much of a coincidence to not be MW inspired.

On a more serious note: why bipedal? Surely it's just way more difficult to get that thing to keep balance. I can respect the fact that humans do it, because we're working from a four limbed body plan that evolution hasn't managed to bypass, but if you're going from scratch, at least make a tripod.

I want robot spiders, personally.

Or the man-hacks from Half-Life. They were a really scary take on quadropter like things.