So NASA has developed these robots to basically do the work of humans. There was a previous version, which the R2 you see above (yes, “R2″) is a refinement of, and now as you can see he’s quite a performer. Is he doing a tango move there?
Check out this video. The money shot is at 3:30, where you can really see how gentle and precise the movements are.
How cool is this? It’s a joint operation with GM, since when you think about it, certain stages of car building and certain parts of space exploration are similar. Actually, I guess it’s kind of a stretch to put it like that. Really, it’s just nice for any hazardous operation in any industry to be handled by a robot with the same agility as a person.
Too bad it doesn’t have any legs, though — but at that point you’re pretty much just asking to be robo-strangled in your bed. Excellent, another addition to the Robocalypse tag. It’s been a while.
[via CNET]
As long as good has nothing to do with this I am just fine with it.
While watching the video I was waiting for this thing to go ballistic and start ripping humans apart.
Cylons!!!
This is the beginning of the end of the world. Those things are going to enslave the human race. I just know it.
So does R2 have a membership card in the UAW?
Now that would be a story: How the robots went on strike when they realized that it was a violation of Asimov’s 1st Law of Robotics to replace any human in the workplace, since it increased the risk of Type II diabetes, its medical complications, and the increased social disorder through human unemployment:
“A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.”
Of course, the one strike hold-out robot had to be cold booted to prevent the spread of an anti-human virus, but only after DARPA retained the backup files for further research. (sarcmark)
You just don’t get it, funny comments aside the benefit for Gm is the product that becomes the no strike no pay workforce. The workforce that works without question 24/7/365.
That is the link – aside form the crap video wasting my bandwidth and the environment the point is lost here.
Space exploration is one one thing but massive job losses are another issue entirely.
One day there will be no detriot, no car plants run by humans and no labour unions if this is used by GM, Ford , Mazda and so on will be buying these by the tonne.
Just for the record the GMT is inaccurate it should read GMT+2 not +5. I can see many possibilities for these autobots – no sick pay, no union fees, no children, no people.
I wonder how much they will cost each if mass produced?
Next add a decent amount of RAM , dna chips and everlasting life is attainable as long as your battery does not run flat
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despite not new, the idea of a “Moon robot” is fascinating but TOO EXPENSIVE
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if we REALLY want a CHEAP and LARGE lunar robotic exploration, we need MANY “low budget moonrovers” as suggested in 2005 in this article:
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