Robotic Equines Vastly Improved

[Radrook]

Just a few years ago we were struggling just to have them keep their balance. Now they are trotting, galloping, climbing stairs and easily going up hills. In fact, when kicked they easily regain their balance. Absolute amazing!

 

[Radrook]

Wonder when they will be dressed up to look like horses, provided with individual catchy names, placed in hippodromes and have them race one another while bets are being placed. I think I would enjoy seeing that more than I enjoy seeing horses race since all horses tend to look the same while these machines could be made to look very distinct from each other. Electronic products companies could have adds attached. Maybe add a human or a robotic rider with psychedelic lights on their helmets and sparklers attached to tails to spice things up?


Now THAT would be interesting!

 

[Radrook]

Actually, I find this type of machine far less threatening than an AI android. It remains servile and has the psychological advantage of mimicking a pet. Not sure what its carrying capability is at present however. Those legs do seem a bit on the flimsy side. In fact, perhaps enhancing its carrying capabilities will prove just as daunting as the effort to get it to keep its balance initially was. Can't imagine it as anywhere near being able to provide a rodeo experience or challenge. More of perhaps a fun ride at an amusement park for young children. But who knows where this innovation might be in 100 years or so.


BTW
A real pity that such inventions are often more motivated by the desire to gain some military advantage in order to enhance out ability to kill. But at least the fringe benefits from such motives will trickle down to society and assume a more benevolent aspect from what was initially intended.

 

[Radrook]

This is definitely not what I had in mind!

Something more like this instead:

 

[timewerx]

It's actually very difficult to program mobility. It's all math.

We had a basic course on it back in 2001. Back then the technology was still primitive. I designed and built something that looked like a spider and could climb stairs, walk across soft sand but it was slow.

 

[Radrook]

It's actually very difficult to program mobility. It's all math.

We had a basic course on it back in 2001. Back then the technology was still primitive. I designed and built something that looked like a spider and could climb stairs, walk across soft sand but it was slow.

How about the weight-bearing capability of such a contraption? Is it feasible to make one that can carry a rider who weighs 130 pounds at approx. 22 MPH?

 

[timewerx]

How about the weight-bearing capability of such a contraption? Is it feasible to make one that can carry a rider who weighs 130 pounds at approx. 22 MPH?

Yes, definitely. The structural consideration is the easiest part here. The hardest part is programming balance and movement. It's not impossible to program it either, it's just difficult, but quite attainable.

 

[Chesterton]

Wonder when they will be dressed up to look like horses, provided with individual catchy names, placed in hippodromes and have them race one another while bets are being placed. I think I would enjoy seeing that more than I enjoy seeing horses race since all horses tend to look the same while these machines could be made to look very distinct from each other. Electronic products companies could have adds attached. Maybe add a human or a robotic rider with psychedelic lights on their helmets and sparklers attached to tails to spice things up?

Now THAT would be interesting!

I know right? Horses - BORRRRING!

 

[Radrook]

I know right? Horses - BORRRRING!

I once met a person who said that he would never enjoy living forever on a paradise Earth because he would get bored having to sit around for all eternity under a tree petting a tiger.

BTW
Not everyone shares your opinion of horses:
http://listverse.com/2014/01/22/10-fascinating-facts-about-horses/

Here is some more for you to tag as boring:

 

[Chesterton]

I once met a person who said that he would never enjoy living forever on a paradise Earth because he would get bored having to sit around for all eternity under a tree petting a tiger.

BTW
Not everyone shares your opinion of horses:
http://listverse.com/2014/01/22/10-fascinating-facts-about-horses/

Here is some more for you to tag as boring:

To be fair to horses, it's not just them. I attach lights and sparklers to my girlfriend. And if she starts to tell a story that sounds like it's going over 2 minutes, I got this laser light show that plays on her torso. Otherwise she's just unendurable.

 

[Radrook]

To be fair to horses, it's not just them. I attach lights and sparklers to my girlfriend. And if she starts to tell a story that sounds like it's going over 2 minutes, I got this laser light show that plays on her torso. Otherwise she's just unendurable.

So you are referring to my description of how a mechanical horse race might be ridiculously enhanced via sparklers and psychedelics? LOL! I was using hyperbole. People who go to races to place bets don't need such distractions. They are far too concerned on whether their horse is going to bring in the cash or not. I see absolutely no reason why it should be any different in this futuristic hypothetical case.

 

[Tanj]

my robotic horse is better.

 

[Radrook]

my robotic horse is better.

Thanks for the cool picture. That's more or less what had in mind.

 

[Tanj]

If you think the picture is cool try the game, Horizon Zero Dawn. I recommend it on a PS4 pro attached to a UHDTV.

 

[Jimmy D]

Just a few years ago we were struggling just to have them keep their balance. Now they are trotting, galloping, climbing stairs and easily going up hills. In fact, when kicked they easily regain their balance. Absolute amazing!

Awesome!

 

[Radrook]

If you think the picture is cool try the game, Horizon Zero Dawn. I recommend it on a PS4 pro attached to a UHDTV.

That PS4 pro is indeed very impressive!
PS4 Pro Console – PlayStation 4 Pro Console | PS4™ Pro Features, Games & Videos

Thanks for the info!

 

[Radrook]

Yes, definitely. The structural consideration is the easiest part here. The hardest part is programming balance and movement. It's not impossible to program it either, it's just difficult, but quite attainable.

If weight-bearing capability isn't a problem, why is the weight bearing capacity of the mechanical military mule designed to help take the load off infantry by carrying their extras limited to just nearly 100 pounds?

 

[Chesterton]

Man, you guys would LOSE YOUR MINDS if you saw the mechanical horse I own. It's very advanced, downright lavish. It's got trunk space, a radio, cupholders...

 

[Radrook]

Man, you guys would LOSE YOUR MINDS if you saw the mechanical horse I own. It's very advanced, downright lavish. It's got trunk space, a radio, cupholders...

I got that beat! I got that beat! You should see the time machine I have stashed away in my basement! It can accelerate from a few seconds to centuries in just under five clicks. Runs on a double A rechargeable battery too. Only side effect is a copious nosebleed upon temporal arrival which can easily be staunched with generous nasal passage applications of Mother Helena Hubbard's refined baking powder.

 

[timewerx]

If weight-bearing capability isn't a problem, why is the weight bearing capacity of the mechanical military mule designed to help take the load off infantry by carrying their extras limited to just nearly 100 pounds?

The technology is fairly new and probably still experimental. It will get better eventually.

When I built my own legged walker back in 2002, it could not climb steps at first. It took me a week to figure out a solution. Then another week to reduce the weight which significantly increased its speed.

Things take some time to evolve, to improve. In this case, maybe a year or so, we might see some significant progress.