posted
I wasn't sure wether to put this here or in "Automobiles", so move as necessary.
Anyway, I'm filling in at a firestation other than my own today, when I come across a small booklet. It is entitled: "Men of Metal, Eyewitness Accounts of Humanoid Robots" it is an excerpt from the book by Rowland Samuel. It is 36 pages long, and contains a few pictures. It was really cool, and sort of Blair Witch style it leaves you rather in the dark. It refers to a web site;
which is really cool, but doesn't seem to have much in the way of solid information (but does have a couple of really cool pictures). Seems more like Pseudo tech mumbo-jumbo.
Have any of my fellow snopesters seen this? Is it a hoax (as I'm suspecting), or does it have some merit? Or is it possibly an advertising gimmick?
posted
I *think* it's just pretty pictures with no facts behind them.
Some very well-funded technical universities' labs have tried to make walking bipedal robots...and have had only the most limited success. I think MIT would be quite surprised to be "scooped" by a guy in a garage.
Silas
Posts: 16801 | From: San Diego, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
The Mini website allows you to "build a robot" that looks oddly similar to the one on aboved linked website. Either this is fake and part of an advertising campaign or real and mini is in on it in some way. The thing is long but not very techincal. Sayin it includes "every sensor known to robot builders" instead of listing the sensors kinda set off my BS alarm.
www.mini.com (go to the build your own and you will see robot).
Although it doesn;t become a car, Honda is building a bipedal robot of their own to assist handicapped people. They call it asimo.
I'm really thinking it's a Mini advertising campaign.
Jake
ETA: Here is an article from 2walls Webzine about it. This was apearently a big deal in early 2004... But I missed it! Was this covered here, or did it slip by the snopesters?
posted
I remember watching a documentary on bidepal robots and even the best were greatly limited and looked clumsy.It's impossible they had come up with a robot that has such fuild and coordinated movements
-------------------- "I love God,he's so deliciously evil!" -Stewie,Family Guy
The fun thing about standards is that they come in so many varieties. Posts: 510 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Sep 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Atlanta Jake: This was apearently a big deal in early 2004... But I missed it! Was this covered here, or did it slip by the snopesters?
-------------------- I'd rather be with you people than the finest people in the world! Posts: 1010 | From: North Tyneside, UK | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
Im wondering why the old man drags a white screen across before he does the robot arm dexterity test...
Posts: 625 | From: Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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quote:Here at Neogentronyx we are currently In the process of constructing a Bipedal Exo-Skeletal Robotic Vehicle, known as a Mech and designated NMX04-1A. Our goal is not simply to build the NMX04-1A. We are striving to be a leader of innovation in new Robotic technologies. Following our current project, many more projects will commence. The purpose of the NMX04-1A is proof of concept and to make the first bold step towards full production of Mecha vehicles.
One priority among our research and development is the goal of constructing Mecha in a way that will be affordable to civilians and not just commercial entities.
There is plenty of info to read about our project here on the site, check out all the links on the left menu and watch for updates constantly.
News and progress will be posted below, daily if possible. We have a Newsletter you can sign up for to keep updated on the project; the signup is located on the right-hand menu towards the bottom.
quote: I live in Wasilla, Alaska, and I have been working on a project I started back in October of 2003. These are some pictures of my work on a prototype Neo-Mecha. It is an 18ft tall bi-pedal machine resembling something from an anime moreso than something you would ever see anywhere else. --Carlos Owens neogen@neogentronyx.com http://www.neogentronyx.com/
posted
Oddly enough, I've SEEN that pamphlet. I found it in the "stack o' magazines" in the ready room LAST time I was in Iraq... someone must have put it in a care package or something.
I looked at it for a few minutes, said "Hmm... THIS is odd," and dropped it in the burnbag. I haven't thought of it since... kind of funny to see it mentioned here.
-------------------- High on the wind, the Highland drums begin to roll, and something from the past just comes and stares into my soul... --Mark Knopfler Posts: 3402 | From: New Bern, NC | Registered: May 2004
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posted
I suppose it IS possible that it relates to Transformers. A new live-action/CGI movie is slated for release in about a year from now. Perhaps Mini made a deal with the movie company?
-------------------- It can't rain all the time. Posts: 1102 | From: Iowa | Registered: Oct 2004
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