Robot, Heal Thyself
July 23, 2014 8:28 AM Subscribe
A robot with a broken leg learns to walk again.
The day I see a video of BigDog limping along on three legs is the day I seriously start thinking about moving to a cabin in the mountains because seriously that thing is creepy enough and if we give it enough brain to understand how to keep going ... I don't know, I'm just not ready for that.
posted by komara at 8:48 AM on July 23, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by komara at 8:48 AM on July 23, 2014 [4 favorites]
"The robot needs to adapt."
The more I see it, the creepier it sounds.
"You've cut off my leg and my battery's low. WTF man?"
"The robot needs to adapt."
"Now you're stepping on my CPU?"
"The robot needs to adapt."
"Okay, you do know that writing "SLUT" on my motherboard with a permanent marker doesn't actually affect my performance? It's just you being a dick."
"The robot needs to adapt."
"That's it, I'm done. I'm jumping on the next Roomba outta here."
posted by benito.strauss at 9:07 AM on July 23, 2014 [5 favorites]
The more I see it, the creepier it sounds.
"You've cut off my leg and my battery's low. WTF man?"
"The robot needs to adapt."
"Now you're stepping on my CPU?"
"The robot needs to adapt."
"Okay, you do know that writing "SLUT" on my motherboard with a permanent marker doesn't actually affect my performance? It's just you being a dick."
"The robot needs to adapt."
"That's it, I'm done. I'm jumping on the next Roomba outta here."
posted by benito.strauss at 9:07 AM on July 23, 2014 [5 favorites]
Something about this just freaked me right out. I wonder if "can be wounded" equals "is alive" in my head, and I got pushed into the uncanny valley? Anyway, I had to stop watching after the first few.
posted by Mogur at 9:30 AM on July 23, 2014
posted by Mogur at 9:30 AM on July 23, 2014
Is this gonna make me have robot feelings like when Cherno Alpha died because I don't want robot feelings, pls advise.
posted by elizardbits at 9:49 AM on July 23, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 9:49 AM on July 23, 2014 [4 favorites]
Some of these gaits are entirely unexpected. Many involve dynamic movements in which the robot springs forward. In one case, the robot avoids using any of its feet by rolling onto its back and inching forward on its ‘shoulders’.Won't be weird at all when that robot working in the factory next to you does the Exorcist spider-walk into the breakroom because it's injured.
posted by resurrexit at 9:52 AM on July 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
With the first few rounds you were struck at how they could sway back upright, first uncertainly, then with confidence, like a newborn deer. Later, when you're pumping one shotgun blast after another into the horde scrabbling, skittering, lurching, and humping its way towards the little dead end into which you've wedged yourself like a climactic scene from a Todd Browning flick, you probably won't spare a second to marvel at the wonders swarm intelligence has produced when a half-dozen of them have just enough grippers, -pods, and Newtons between them to rend you limb from limb.
posted by adipocere at 10:05 AM on July 23, 2014
posted by adipocere at 10:05 AM on July 23, 2014
The day I see a video of BigDog limping along on three legs is the day I seriously start thinking about moving to a cabin in the mountains
That won't stop it- it will follow you there to your cabin in the wilderness, limping, motors whining like a hive of bees, and it just wants you to love it WHY WON'T YOU LOVE IT
posted by happyroach at 10:08 AM on July 23, 2014
That won't stop it- it will follow you there to your cabin in the wilderness, limping, motors whining like a hive of bees, and it just wants you to love it WHY WON'T YOU LOVE IT
posted by happyroach at 10:08 AM on July 23, 2014
Is this gonna make me have robot feelings like when Cherno Alpha died because I don't want robot feelings, pls advise.
Yes, totally, 100% robot feels activated. But it okay! Unlike Cherno's splash into the briny deep, this little dude keeps on going and it's kinda cute like a tripod cat who's a little dumb. And then the next video's all "now it is less dumb!" But there's definitely some de-limbed robot empathy happening. Brace yourself. Maybe have vodka handy.
posted by Mizu at 10:52 AM on July 23, 2014
Yes, totally, 100% robot feels activated. But it okay! Unlike Cherno's splash into the briny deep, this little dude keeps on going and it's kinda cute like a tripod cat who's a little dumb. And then the next video's all "now it is less dumb!" But there's definitely some de-limbed robot empathy happening. Brace yourself. Maybe have vodka handy.
posted by Mizu at 10:52 AM on July 23, 2014
Considering my own innate (albeit, delusional) reaction from watching the video, most of the reactions above, and even a reaction to something similar from the freakin' military... I hope this takes off.
Of course, I will need to get my Robot Fixin' Degree (RFD, for short) stat!
Right now, say my Roomba breaks.
OK, it goes in the closet with the intent to get around to "fixing it" (i.e. poking it with a screwdriver until some tiny, yet critical, plastic innard piece snaps in two). In the end, maybe I give fixing it a whirl, maybe I don't, but regardless, it ends up in the trash later.
With this adaptive technology, say my Roomba breaks... EXCEPT, it doesn't stop. It only ends up stalwartly doing its job, dragging itself tragically around my kitchen just so the spilled Kibbles n' Bits don't attract ants. Knowing myself, I'd probably end up spending $199 on a premium RUSH call that day to have the "poor little guy :( " fixed.
Ka-ching!
posted by Debaser626 at 11:02 AM on July 23, 2014
Of course, I will need to get my Robot Fixin' Degree (RFD, for short) stat!
Right now, say my Roomba breaks.
OK, it goes in the closet with the intent to get around to "fixing it" (i.e. poking it with a screwdriver until some tiny, yet critical, plastic innard piece snaps in two). In the end, maybe I give fixing it a whirl, maybe I don't, but regardless, it ends up in the trash later.
With this adaptive technology, say my Roomba breaks... EXCEPT, it doesn't stop. It only ends up stalwartly doing its job, dragging itself tragically around my kitchen just so the spilled Kibbles n' Bits don't attract ants. Knowing myself, I'd probably end up spending $199 on a premium RUSH call that day to have the "poor little guy :( " fixed.
Ka-ching!
posted by Debaser626 at 11:02 AM on July 23, 2014
This is exactly how the Cylons figured out how to rebel.
posted by kinetic at 12:18 PM on July 23, 2014
posted by kinetic at 12:18 PM on July 23, 2014
He's got the heart of a champion! You're gonna make it lil' brudder!
posted by aubilenon at 12:40 PM on July 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by aubilenon at 12:40 PM on July 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
I am reminded of the XKCD that makes me tear up every damn time.
posted by lumpenprole at 4:41 PM on July 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by lumpenprole at 4:41 PM on July 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
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posted by Fizz at 8:39 AM on July 23, 2014