March 29, 2002

8:01 PM

Run faster, jump higher. What happens when you cross stilts and pogo sticks? The next 'extreme sport' on the verge of the big time, or a new and fun way to really injure yourself?
posted by KnitWit (12 comments total)

Wow, that's cool. I wonder how much they cost. Definitely looks dangerous. I'm downloading the movies at this moment. Seems fun.
posted by ookamaka at 8:59 PM on March 29, 2002

sorry.

http://www.metafilter.com/comments.mefi/6879
posted by Dom at 9:03 PM on March 29, 2002

I'm sorry too, Dom.

On topic, I've seen these bouncy bouncy things before. They were featured during the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. They're cool though. I wouldn't be caught dead on a pair personally, but they're cool.
posted by ZachsMind at 9:41 PM on March 29, 2002

Not as good as the Russian military version with hydraulics, but still very cool. I could see breaking my neck on these things--I want some!
posted by Nothing at 10:17 PM on March 29, 2002

Russian military version with hydraulics

Please tell me you're kidding.
posted by Yelling At Nothing at 10:36 PM on March 29, 2002

Russian military version with hydraulics

Really! this absolutely begs for a link.
posted by alumshubby at 5:07 AM on March 30, 2002

What happens when you cross stilts and pogo sticks?

Things that would be banned in all fifty states? (Second quote down)
posted by MUD at 6:21 AM on March 30, 2002

damn sorry if I annoyed with a double post (my first post too no less).

Here's an article on the Russian Gas-powered boots as taken from last year's comment section. (is it okay to double post within a thread if people are asking for a link?)
posted by KnitWit at 7:34 AM on March 30, 2002

Russian Gas-powered boots

Okay, I thought this was totally fiction when it was featured in an online short story, "The Scab's Progress," by Paul di Filippo and Bruce Sterling. The latter's really good at weaving existing bizarre tech into his fiction writing, so I should've known better.
posted by alumshubby at 7:50 AM on March 30, 2002

I read about them in Discover, print version, and can't find the relevant article on their website. It mentioned that they had been designed for the military, but abandoned, and picked up by a private company. Seeing that other article KnitWit posted (thanks for backing me up with a link!), I don't know which development story is true.

I hope the spring loaded shoes from the post don't end up banned.
posted by Nothing at 10:49 AM on March 30, 2002

Someday, they'll build cities around these things.

1. Sigh. These are seriously cool, but as was pointed out in the earlier FPP, they cost $1300 and last around 100 hours in use, which is very expensive fun. The inventors need to do something to beef up their strength of materials.

2. Notice that they look like the foot and lower leg of a hooved animal, like a horse? Horses evolved to run on their toenails—that's what a horse's hoof is—and cats and dogs walk on their toes; the lowest part of their 'leg' is anatomically the foot, or what would be the foot in humans. It's believed that the 'purpose' of this is to provide better leverage. Well, this device is built the same way.

People tried to build flying machines that imitated birds for centuries, without success, and only succeeded in flying when we gave up that approach. Likewise, human vehicles don't imitate the mechanics of running animals. I think it's fascinating that this gadget comes back to trying to imitate evolved biological technology.

3. We ought to take two medium-sized countries, and randomize one to travel only with the Segway, and the other to use only this device, for 50 years. Predictions?
posted by Slithy_Tove at 9:28 PM on March 30, 2002

combine these with the government's new exo-suit and you've got one kick ass soldier...?
posted by mhh5 at 1:33 AM on March 31, 2002