I think we just got put out of business...

[dlavery]

OK, this is just way too cool.

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/robot...own-203345.php

Two questions come to mind:
1) where and when can I get one?
2) how long before the first robot wins the Tour de France?

-dave


.

[Tim Baird]

I like the fact that they made it controllable through a LAN and cell phones. Very cool.

Good find, Dave.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Originally Posted by Tim Baird

I like the fact that they made it controllable through a LAN and cell phones. Very cool.

Microsoft's new robot delopment platform will bring the same functionality to all of the popular robot kits. Cool stuff.

[D.Fahringer]

Ok, so I have to use my leg to balance while stopped on an inclined beam!

That robot is very cool, wow!

Dave F.

[nuggetsyl]

Do you think it weights 120 pounds and runs off a 12v battery.

[thegathering]

Ah man! That totally reminds me of the bicycle couriers in Will Gibson's Virtual Light!

[s_forbes]

Very cool! Robot bike trials!

Now they need to make one without that extra wheel...

[Greg Marra]

The 50cm high cyclist can navigate an S-curve, pedal up a 2cm wide incline, or stop on a one-yen coin while maintaining its balance — all through the aid of ultrasonic and shock censors.

If I were Gizmodo, I'd be worried about publishing information like this. The shock censors could come after them, and that doesn't sound very fun.

[Jeff Rodriguez]

No doubt that this is cool, but what's the point? How can a robot that rides a bike be useful?
I'm assuming that the robot can only ride a bike and can't walk on its own.

[Schnabel]

Ok, so you called this thread, "I think we just got put out of business", what does this mean? Is it a hint for a future game? Or were we supposed to come up with a bike riding robot on our own?

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by Ogre

No doubt that this is cool, but what's the point? How can a robot that rides a bike be useful?
I'm assuming that the robot can only ride a bike and can't walk on its own.

Welcome to Japanese PR events, where lots of flashy things happen, but nothing of substance. Anyone remember the bathtub for the PS2 & 3? Simply put, this is a peeing contest between companies.

And I agree, it can ride a bike, and probably do just that.

[viking1902]

Originally Posted by Ogre

No doubt that this is cool, but what's the point? How can a robot that rides a bike be useful?
I'm assuming that the robot can only ride a bike and can't walk on its own.

The point to some of these crazy creations might not be the object itself but rather the technology behind making that object. Instead of putting out some boring press release that says "we invented a new method to do (insert something here)", they made an aesthetically pleasing little gizmo to display their new technology. Who knows, with such a powerful little self-balanced thing like this, we might be seeing some Japanese competition with the Segway soon!

[D.Fahringer]

Originally Posted by Ogre

No doubt that this is cool, but what's the point? How can a robot that rides a bike be useful?
I'm assuming that the robot can only ride a bike and can't walk on its own.

Yep, The bike is "riding" the robot around, The robot body seems to house the gyro stabilizing mechanism, (similar to the old 2 wheeled inline car built in the '20s or '30s)

http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEU...s/schilovs.htm

and the bike is controlled by onboard servos and powered by a drive motor. The robot arms and legs are just going along for the ride.

If you take the robot off the bike you would have a marionette.


Dave F.