Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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-aviat...oot-tall-fence

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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!

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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.

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

: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.

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

Or pop out wings and glide away.

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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."

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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?

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

No, it looks more like an 8-10 foot fence.

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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.

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

What if there are TWO fences?

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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.)??

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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.

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

From here

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

Still not as impressive as this...

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

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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?

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

That's so cool!

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

T-minus

Re: Precision Urban Hopper - jumping robot
 

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