Cheap, Open-design Humanoid Bot - Runs Linux, Too 167
An anonymous reader points out Linux Devices' coverage of a new Linux-based humanoid robot: "Four companies in Japan have created a low-cost, user-programmable humanoid robot targeting educational and research applications. ... The HRP-2m Choromet stands about 14 inches tall, and is capable of walking upright on two legs. It can also assume supine or prone positions, and stand up from either." As the reader summarizes, "It runs user-space humanoid motion application software and real-time Linux on a business-card-sized computer with a SuperH processor. Be sure to check out the video of the little guy without his plastic batman suit."
hmm (Score:5, Funny)
Be sure to check out the video of the little guy without his plastic batman suit
nsfw?
Re:hmm (Score:2)
Re:hmm (Score:2)
I for one welcome the definition of "cheap" (Score:2)
We need to teach these things to run (Score:5, Funny)
Picture this: your mother-in-law comes over. You open the front door, and just as she's about to cross the threshold 40 of these things come running down the hallway armed with foot-long kitchen knives.
A robot walking slowly is a toy. A robot, even a tiny one, pistoning down a hall, leaping obstacles, maybe tripping and catching itself with one hand without breaking stride... that's just plain scary. I believe that no invention is complete until it's capable of its own starring role in a nightmare. We're getting there, let's get it done this decade.
Re:We need to teach these things to run (Score:2)
Now the father-in-law, that I can see as possibly a nightmare, but the mother-in-law is usually the pain the ass, I'd call it a blessing, especially if she never came back to give us a "suprise" visit.
Re:We need to teach these things to run (Score:5, Funny)
Because she's still in the dream.
Re:We need to teach these things to run (Score:2)
Are you trying to sneak a "imagine a beowulf of these" joke in here?
It says it maintains internet access while recharging here. [linuxdevices.com] With 32mb of ram, that is plenty to run a webserver. I'm offering $10 to the first person to get their mini robot Slashdotted. Of course, at $14,000 each, that won't help a lot with the initial cost.
Re:We need to teach these things to run (Score:2)
Re:We need to teach these things to run (Score:2)
Meanwhile, I'm sure a life-sized model would have a couple gigs of RAM and a kick ass processor.
Re:We need to teach these things to run (Score:2)
Availability
Availability was not announced. A short video clip of the..."""
Given the target audience, I don't think that's a realistic price. And remember, it's only about a foot tall. They didn't talk about connectivity, but I hope the managed to squeeze bluetooth or wi-fi into it. (Short range only, of course. About the range of a mobile phone should be correct.)
I *am* worried about power consumption. Batteries are heavy AND expensive.
Re:We need to teach these things to run (Score:1)
Re:We need to teach these things to run (Score:1)
Re:We need to teach these things to run (Score:1)
Re:We need to teach these things to run (Score:1)
Re:We need to teach these things to run (Score:2)
Re:We need to teach these things to run (Score:1)
Re:We need to teach these things to run (Score:2)
Why Windows Media? (Score:4, Funny)
I sincerely hope this is the result of the video hosting service, and not the company itself. Sometimes you have to wonder at the schizophrenia endemic to the corporate world.
Re:Why Windows Media? (Score:2)
Re:Why Windows Media? (Score:2)
Blindly arguing for linux w
Imagine.... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Imagine.... (Score:1)
Your plastic pal who's fun to be with! (Score:3, Funny)
Why walking? (Score:4, Insightful)
2. Install Linux
3.
4. Profit???
Seriously, why so much interest in building a walknig robot though? Sure it's an interesting research project, but what's the real application of a robotic biped? IANARE (I Am Not A Robot Engineer), but it seems to me that there are a lot more efficient ways for a robot to move - wheels, treads, etc - than trying to master walking. By the time you're done adding motors, sensors and processing power to make it walk, I imagine there's precious little left to make it actually *do* anything useful.
Re:Why walking? (Score:1)
Re:Why walking? (Score:3, Insightful)
are better suited to bipeds (like us).
Stairs and ladders, for example, are two of the many
environments they will need to be proficient in.
Not to mention robotic soccer.
And besides - the look cool and cool sells.
(although at $170k - probably not too well.
Re:Why walking? (Score:2)
go stand by the stairs.
I am the pusher robot. Do not trust the shover robot. I am here to protect you from the terrible secret of space.
Re:Why walking? (Score:4, Insightful)
For better or worse, the human world is designed around bipedal movement. Steps, doors (especially revolving doors), chairs, curbs, desks... They all assume certain things, amongst which is bipedal movement.
The more we program robots to be bipedal, the more we learn about bipedal movement from a purely analytical perspective. And the more we learn about bipedal movement, the closer we become to making real "helper" robots that are seen in countless Sci-Fi stories.
Re:Why walking? (Score:2)
Re:Why walking? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Why walking? (Score:2)
Re:Why walking? (Score:2)
Re:Why walking? (Score:2)
Re:Why walking? (Score:2)
I know nothing about robot(ic)s (Score:2)
Of course, right now it's probably preprogrammed in, so I don't suppose it'd need much.
Re:Why walking? (Score:1)
Well, that's a good one, isn't it? In point of fact to solve the issue of walking you have to solve several other problems that are useful even in nonwalking robots.
Then there's the issue of simple anthropomorphism. Use your imagination about what that might be useful for.
. . . it seems to me that there are a lot more efficient ways for a robot to move - wheels, treads, etc
And yet there are plac
Re:Why walking? (Score:1)
People also relate better emotionally to anthropomorphic things.
Re:Why walking? (Score:1)
Re:Why walking? (Score:2)
The point of having a bipedal robot or android (with presumably also two limbs protruding from the upper torso and also hands, digits and opposable thumbs) is so that the robot can fill the role of a nineteenth century house matron, or act as a host and guide in a corporate building. These are roles that Japaneese robotic companies see being fulfilled by robots rather than low-paid workers or not at all, I think.
Seriously though, I th
Re:Why walking? (Score:2)
Walking? ok maybe to the kitchen to get me a beer.
Re:Why walking? (Score:3)
Re:Why walking? (Score:2)
I suppose the same could be said about me, but I find it immensely fulfilling just to be.
Re:Why walking? (Score:2)
Personally I would get taunting the robot by poking it with a stick like the guy in the article is doing.
Re:Why walking? (Score:2)
If it ran Windows, a useful reference would be: (Score:4, Funny)
That's right. Imminent.
Re:If it ran Windows, a useful reference would be: (Score:2)
Still, nanochips inside every living being is far more impressive
hmm (Score:3, Funny)
Dang it, I said 14 FEET tall...subcontractors never get ANYTHING right
Ok, its cute...umm what does it do?
Re:hmm (Score:1)
It's cute.
KFG
Re:hmm (Score:2)
I can't wait for the "hacked by Chinese" knockoff toys.
Re:hmm (Score:1)
KFG
Old Joke (Score:2)
I can see it now (Score:4, Funny)
Use the source! (Score:1)
But does it... (Score:5, Funny)
File not found!
Re:But does it... (Score:2)
Video? (Score:2)
Re:Video? (Score:1)
Re:Video? (Score:1)
Download, play with mplayer.
Scripting languages? (Score:5, Funny)
Sort of a "TCL-me Elmo?"
This is nice, but... (Score:2, Funny)
Run linux? Pshhh... (Score:2)
Re:Run linux? Pshhh... (Score:1)
Asimov's laws (Score:1)
So if a wood-chopper bot chopped wood and a human jumped between the axe and the tree two things could happen: 1. the robot's reflexes are fast enough to avoid the accident 2. they
Re:Asimov's laws (Score:2)
I think you mean sentient [princeton.edu]
Re:Asimov's laws (Score:1)
What harm is and how it can be caused by the robot's actions needs to be 'hardcoded' - the robot has to be designed in a way to make it impossible for it to simply 'forget' this (not even through the infamous 'lighning strike'). If this were to happen
Re:Asimov's laws (Score:1)
Maybe even add a mechanism (emergency break) that defaults to action 1 (i.e. cease doing anything) as long as there is this conflict and sound an alarm to call its owner to resolve the conflict.
I should have stated the rule differently, "Robots shall not (knowingly) harm another scentient being." should actually read "Robots sh
Re:Asimov's laws (Score:1)
I think the need some actual ethics when they start getting really smart.
Re:Asimov's laws (Score:2)
Re:Asimov's laws (Score:1)
There certainly is the idea that bots could act as vigilantes and protect the hum
Exterminate! (Score:1, Funny)
Positions.... (Score:1)
Love the aspect (Score:1)
Now, how do we fit Koji Kabuto [wikipedia.org] in there?
Re:Love the aspect (Score:1)
Cheap (Score:3, Insightful)
If it's $100, then it would be cheap. It's probably more like $20,000, which, I would not consider "cheap"... More accessible for some, yet, cheap, no... and, it's not even accessible yet.
Another chair shortage in Redmond? (Score:2, Funny)
Microsoft already has its sights on the robot biz: see Microsoft's Robots Will Assimilate You [robots.net] .
In other news, at a company conference in Boston, a Microsoft executive referred to the low-cost, user-programmable robot business as 'our house', and warned Linux to stay out. He went on to say "Those people are not going to be allowed to take food off our plate, because that is what they are intending to do ... Humanoid bots is our business,
it's our house and Linux is not going to take that business."
Re:Another chair shortage in Redmond? (Score:1)
Runs Linux? (Score:1)
Cool (Score:1)
Taiji (Score:2)
Re:Taiji (Score:2)
Re:Taiji (Score:2)
Cool... (Score:1)
I hope the firmware is open too (Score:3, Insightful)
Positions (Score:2)
Reminds me of a GURPS game... (Score:2)
Very nice. Finally, adequate sensors (Score:2)
Most of the little humanoid toy-sized robots are a joke in the sensor department, but this one has the gyros, accelerometers, and force sensing to, maybe, get it right. Importantly, it has three axes of force sensing on the legs. The Aibo and BDI's Little Dog [bdi.com] do not, which limits them to semi-static gaits. If you have that force sensing, you can do slip control and potentially run up hills.
I have a long-standing interest (and some results and patents) in the legged running area, and I'm glad to see the
Correct link, real tech details (Score:3, Informative)
Company site, with translation to English [google.com]. Actual technical details. Pricing.
Re:Correct link, real tech details (Score:2)
Wouldn't it be easier to just look at the English version of the page?
No. The English version and the Japanese version are quite different. The good stuff is only on the Japanese pages.
Cost? (Score:2)
So what exactly qualifies as inexpensive? If the Promet is $170k, would the Choromet be more like $17k?
This is supposed to be "cheap"? (Score:2)
I mean, seriously - it can't be the servos, sensors, mechanical linkages, or plastic "body parts". Lynxmotion's Robonova [lynxmotion.com] only costs $1000.00 for a kit, and that includes d
Re:This is supposed to be "cheap"? (Score:2)
Re:Wow, sound pretty sweet... (Score:1, Offtopic)
No, but does it... (Score:2)
Re:Wow, sound pretty sweet... (Score:3, Funny)
Or, god forbid, "Does it run Windows, and if so, how long before it starts freaking out and killing people?"
Re:Wow, sound pretty sweet... (Score:2)
'Course, that only counts because even the HIRD doesn't yet quite run the HURD.
Re:Wow, sound pretty sweet... (Score:2)
Of course, that's partially because at the moment NOTHING runs the HURD.
(No NOTHING is not an acronym...yet. That's an idea! Build something that runs the HURD and give it a [recursive] acronym that displays as NOTHING.)
Re:Girlfriend (Score:2)
Re:Girlfriend (Score:2)
Re:Does it run HURD ? (Score:2)