Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot [Archive]

Dick Linn

17-09-2009, 11:32

Excerpt: A couple of months ago, Sandia National Laboratory, in conjunction with Boston Dynamics (they of Big Dog fame) and DARPA, announced the creation of a robot that could jump 25 feet in the air.

Video:

http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-amp-space/article/2009-09/new-video-shows-military-robot-leap-over-25-foot-tall-fence

Tom I

17-09-2009, 11:39

I've got one of those... except it doesn't jump as high... okay not at all... okay its a remote controlled car!

Haha VERY interesting video. I'm not only intrigued by how it jumps, but also how it lands. That looks like a hard impact when it lands, that must be one tough little bot!

EricVanWyk

17-09-2009, 13:01

I was talking to some Boston Dynamics guys in a bar about this little beasty, it sounds like a LOT of fun to work on.

BrendanB

17-09-2009, 13:30

All I can say is: WOW! I sooo want one of those.... (Christmas comes to mind) :]

JesseK

17-09-2009, 13:58

:ahh:

Can it do it again?! That looks like it was loads of fun to make. It'd be funny to see it deploy a parachute at the apex of the jump :D Or see little green Army Men pop out with their own parachutes. Or have it jump out of a cloud of smoke, or do a flip in mid-air.

BLAQmx

17-09-2009, 15:43

:ahh:

It'd be funny to see it deploy a parachute at the apex of the jump :

Or pop out wings and glide away.

EricVanWyk

17-09-2009, 16:08

Or pop out wings and glide away.

Or jump through a middle school's (open) window, just in time for the teacher to explain "And that! is why you want to know science and math."

qwertyuiop[]\

17-09-2009, 16:10

I think that im just going to upgrade all of my 25 foot fences to 30 foot ones

Chris is me

17-09-2009, 16:13

That fence was 25 feet? There was a standard size car parked next to it that appeared to be more than half of the height of the fence. I bet it could jump one though.

How does it work? Pneumatic punch into the ground?

BrendanB

17-09-2009, 17:34

Dan Richardson

17-09-2009, 19:49

Now why couldn't someone just throw the thing over the fence?

Tom I

17-09-2009, 19:53

How does it work? Pneumatic punch into the ground?

Nahh, I wouldn't think so. From the size of that thing, I'd doubt there'd be enough gas to provide both the power and the speed such a pneumatic system would require.
I'd say some sort of potential energy source, like a spring, drawn back, and quickly released. Semi reminicent to me of 2008's game, Overdrive... Many teams used springs or surgical tubing to provide the potential energy kick to launch the ball over the overpass.

BrendanB

17-09-2009, 20:10

Now why couldn't someone just throw the thing over the fence?

Because the car jumping over by itself is cool.;)

Mr_I

17-09-2009, 22:31

Now why couldn't someone just throw the thing over the fence?

Presumably because there is a "bad guy" somewhere with a gun ... ?

EricVanWyk

17-09-2009, 22:44

Now why couldn't someone just throw the thing over the fence?

What if there are TWO fences?

Katie_UPS

17-09-2009, 23:07

I haven't seen the videos, but your responses are making for a really funny thread.

Brandon Holley

17-09-2009, 23:27

Now why couldn't someone just throw the thing over the fence?

Elaborating on others comments...what if this little guy was a few hundred yards away from you and came across a hurdle (fence, crevice, etc.)??

Akash Rastogi

18-09-2009, 00:56

Boston Dynamics is by far one of my favorite companies. If you guys like this then go check out Big Dog and Little Dog. You will be amazed at what those two robots can do.

Jon236

18-09-2009, 10:49

With the gent from Cirque du Soleil on the GDC, I wonder to what heights we might be asked to reach.............

Andy Baker

18-09-2009, 13:18

This is very cool. I would like to see the mechanism for this jump. It can't be pneumatic, unless there is a very high pressure, small tank and pump on board.

AB

Dave Scheck

18-09-2009, 14:10

From here (http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=2253)The current design uses a combustion powered linear piston actuator that rotates about an actuated pivot to place the foot of the hopping mechanism on the ground at a 70 degree angle between the piston and the ground.

Alan Anderson

18-09-2009, 14:58

...combustion powered linear piston actuator...
So there's a legitimate excuse for playing around with potatoes, PVC, WD-40 and spark plugs. :)

Akash Rastogi

18-09-2009, 15:46

Still not as impressive as this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGo0xsImasw
;)

IKE

18-09-2009, 17:52

From here (http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=2253)

I am curious if it is a fueled mechanism, or if it is like an airbag unit. There used to be a battle bot that used High pressure pneumatics that could throw itself or other bots pretty high in the air. T3 was its name I think?

mikelowry

18-09-2009, 18:48

Still not as impressive as this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGo0xsImasw
;)

That's so cool!

Dick Linn

19-09-2009, 09:42

I am curious if it is a fueled mechanism, or if it is like an airbag unit. There used to be a battle bot that used High pressure pneumatics that could throw itself or other bots pretty high in the air. T3 was its name I think?

It could be something like the Paslode nail guns that use a fuel cartridge - bang, bang, bang.

http://www.paslode.com/fuel-powered-nailers/cf325/

http://www.paslode.com/products/Fuel-Cells/

How about jumping anvils?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_c0B00Ax3w

Brandon Holley

19-09-2009, 10:02

MikePres

19-09-2009, 17:29

Amazing!
I just hope that Dean isn't reading all this... he's totally gonna make us build something like that in 2011 ><