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I'm going to reply to your comment, as it's currently on top, but several of the top comments have this same sentiment. I don't think it's fair to criticize th

I'm going to reply to your comment, as it's currently on top, but several of the top comments have this same sentiment. I don't think it's fair to criticize this project harshly because the robot has external power and a supporting arm to keep it from damaging itself. The research and development was clearly about the design and actuation of the legs, and the researches have clearly done well on that front. To require them to provide onboard power for a system that they don't even know the requirements for is a little much, in my opinion.

glesica 12y ago
The research and development was clearly about the design and actuation of the legs... OK, but then is it really fair for them to publicize how fast it can run? I mean, I guess if the challenge is just to be able to move the legs fast enough, then maybe it is. But then why not publicize the number of steps it can take per unit of time instead of its speed? Speed is kind of misleading anyway unless you know how big it is.
- furyofantares 12y ago
  Yes, it is fair to disclose exactly what you've achieved. They've made it run 28.5 mph on a treadmill with off board power and that is exactly what they disclosed. I guess you are reacting to the comparison to a human that has on board power. Or maybe it's just the fact that this comparison makes for a misleading headline. In any case this is probably the least interesting thing we could be discussing about their progress.
joe_the_user 12y ago
Clearly there are two parts to this equation. One aspect is how far research has gone - it's gone a long ways and achieved a lot, yes. The other aspect is how there is to go - there's a long to go before you get anything useful here. The thing you have to consider with these criticisms is that many technologies have gone a long, long way in their research but still hit a wall before they wound-up being practical. Walking robots seem like they're just very hard. Compared to wheeled vehicules, "walkers" touch on a very large number of "frames" (in the sense of Minsky etc). There's no reason for a walker if they just use to the safe, level zone of a road and if a walker moves in less structured areas, they need a lot of intelligence to move in a way that's useful for people (I've seen a video of BigDog moving through the woods with one soldier guiding via joy but the useful of thing that needs constant attention but can't be ridden would be strictly less than that of a horse and that's being optimistic it can guided effectively, etc).
anigbrowl 12y ago
I suppose once you have the basic mechanism working at a few different scales it's not such a big deal to hang the battery off the center of gravity. It's true that this project was about finding good 'leg' designs and balancing mechanisms; at the same time I'll be more impressed when they present a free-standing version that be taken to an athletic track. I think it won't be long (<5y) before someone does this with Usain Bolt or whoever else is the fastest human at the time. Shades of John Henry.
rasz_pl 12y ago
development was clearly about the design and actuation of the legs, and the researches have clearly ..failed by investing time in blind alley. This mechanism is unable to: -move legs out of sequence -support turning or balancing in Z axis its like one of those "running" robots that pretend they arent wheels https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/138364285/outrunner-the-worlds-most-advanced-running-robot https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/138364285/outrunner-the...
dllthomas 12y ago
FWIW, the snark in my comment wasn't directed at the research but at the reporting ("faster than any human!").

glesica 12y ago

The research and development was clearly about the design and actuation of the legs... OK, but then is it really fair for them to publicize how fast it can run? I mean, I guess if the challenge is just to be able to move the legs fast enough, then maybe it is. But then why not publicize the number of steps it can take per unit of time instead of its speed? Speed is kind of misleading anyway unless you know how big it is.

furyofantares 12y ago
Yes, it is fair to disclose exactly what you've achieved. They've made it run 28.5 mph on a treadmill with off board power and that is exactly what they disclosed. I guess you are reacting to the comparison to a human that has on board power. Or maybe it's just the fact that this comparison makes for a misleading headline. In any case this is probably the least interesting thing we could be discussing about their progress.

joe_the_user 12y ago

Clearly there are two parts to this equation. One aspect is how far research has gone - it's gone a long ways and achieved a lot, yes. The other aspect is how there is to go - there's a long to go before you get anything useful here. The thing you have to consider with these criticisms is that many technologies have gone a long, long way in their research but still hit a wall before they wound-up being practical. Walking robots seem like they're just very hard. Compared to wheeled vehicules, "walkers" touch on a very large number of "frames" (in the sense of Minsky etc). There's no reason for a walker if they just use to the safe, level zone of a road and if a walker moves in less structured areas, they need a lot of intelligence to move in a way that's useful for people (I've seen a video of BigDog moving through the woods with one soldier guiding via joy but the useful of thing that needs constant attention but can't be ridden would be strictly less than that of a horse and that's being optimistic it can guided effectively, etc).

anigbrowl 12y ago

I suppose once you have the basic mechanism working at a few different scales it's not such a big deal to hang the battery off the center of gravity. It's true that this project was about finding good 'leg' designs and balancing mechanisms; at the same time I'll be more impressed when they present a free-standing version that be taken to an athletic track. I think it won't be long (<5y) before someone does this with Usain Bolt or whoever else is the fastest human at the time. Shades of John Henry.

rasz_pl 12y ago

development was clearly about the design and actuation of the legs, and the researches have clearly ..failed by investing time in blind alley. This mechanism is unable to: -move legs out of sequence -support turning or balancing in Z axis its like one of those "running" robots that pretend they arent wheels https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/138364285/outrunner-the-worlds-most-advanced-running-robot https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/138364285/outrunner-the...

dllthomas 12y ago

FWIW, the snark in my comment wasn't directed at the research but at the reporting ("faster than any human!").