The water penguins are very cool, but the air penguins look suspiciously CG'd. Not that it couldn't work, but I want to see a less slick video of them. posted by Popular Ethics at 6:57 PM on June 10
That was my first reaction to that video too, Popular Ethics, but watching it again fullscreen and in high quality made it more real, you can really see the creases and the flimsiness of the wings. posted by Kattullus at 7:07 PM on June 10
Too much flappin' not enough swooping from those robot penguins. In some shots where they were coasting, it seemed like the camera was moving towards them to heighten the sense of speed. posted by bonobothegreat at 7:21 PM on June 10
Yeah I guess it's cool if you like conventional animal robots, but I'll be unimpressed until they make a robotic narwhal.
Crow: "Here at Phillips Petroleum, we've found ways to replace the environment. Take these self-cleaning, plastic ducks." posted by JHarris at 7:46 PM on June 10
Look up the Festo Air Ray, it is far spookier than the air penguins. posted by Krrrlson at 7:58 PM on June 10
Now I need to get a Lunocet so I can go swimming with these robots. posted by homunculus at 8:13 PM on June 10
Krrrlson, an air ray other than the one in the fourth link? posted by brundlefly at 8:16 PM on June 10
Man, those electric penguin robots will be a valuable commodity when the planet's flesh penguins are extinct. posted by Loudmax at 8:21 PM on June 10 [1 favorite has favorites]
These would be quite the hit entertainment at 'shroom parties. posted by netbros at 8:35 PM on June 10
Oh yeah, I missed that -- that's the one. What an awesome prank it would be to just unleash fifty of those in a major city, maybe have them play spooky sci-fi sounds. posted by Krrrlson at 9:12 PM on June 10
What an awesome prank it would be to just unleash fifty of those in a major city
It needn't be a little penguin. It can be the biggest penguin you've ever seen. An electric penguin, twenty feet high, with long green tentacles that sting people, and you can stab it in the wings and the blood can go spurting psssssshhhh in slow motion. posted by emeiji at 10:54 PM on June 10 [1 favorite has favorites]
Oh, there's very little doubt you'd be in a Gitmo equivalent within days. Especially if you did it in Boston. posted by Krrrlson at 10:55 PM on June 10
You know, when Skynet becomes self aware this is what's gonna do us in. posted by Extopalopaketle at 1:18 AM on June 11
Eh, just throw 'em some robot fish, they'll leave you alone. posted by JHarris at 1:34 AM on June 11
I, for one, welcome these incredibly fragile and easily breakable robot overlords. They are much better than the bulletproof duralloy ones. posted by moonbiter at 2:45 AM on June 11
I love how bland the narration is, just like it's from a sixties corporate film that Devo would have parodied. My favorite line is "Molicubes a fascinating way for young people to program their own robots." posted by bendybendy at 4:25 AM on June 11
The whole vibe of the first link- the narration, music and subject matter really felt like a promotional video from blade runner world. I just came a little. posted by ryaninoakland at 4:47 AM on June 11
Mad Science is our friend, and would never do anything to hurt us! The rumors of pain-ray armed robotic penguins are mere propaganda! posted by GenjiandProust at 6:12 AM on June 11
I was a lot more impressed with the Air ray then the air Penguin. I can just picture like the inside of a mall with robot fish floating around in the big open spaces. Also are these things autonomous? Can they navigate an environment on their own or do they need an operator? How long before they need to be charged?
I think if you released them outside, the wind would just blow them away, it doesn't look like they are capable of very high speed. posted by delmoi at 6:13 AM on June 11
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posted by Kattullus at 6:30 PM on June 10