Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #03748



To: Dave Hrynkiw dave@solarbotics.com
From: Steven Bolt sbolt@xs4all.nl
Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 09:48:31 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: [alt-beam] Stryder / Cog-like machine in 5 yrs WAS [non-tech / LONG]


On Tue, 25 May 1999, Dave Hrynkiw wrote:

---8<---
> I look at Stryder and see a working example of something I
> thought wasn't possible - a 4 legged, fixed motor position walker
> capable of very efficient walking gait (not lifting legs very
> high saves power). My opinion is that it's a very viable layout
> for larger machines designed to work in linoleum-floored
> buildings, like a hospital. A few cm clearance is plenty at that
> scale.

Ummm... I find Stryder very interesting, but the practical
application isn't obvious to me. If a `bot won't lift its legs, why
not use wheels instead? Autonavigating wheeled carts have been
doing a good job on smooth (hospital & factory) floors for years.
Wheels probably save lots of energy, compared to this kind of
walking.

---8<---
> But what I will comment on is, THAT TO ME, Mark's work is
> parallel to Brooks' work a decade ago with Ghengis and the like,
> but using a different approach. I fully expect Mark to be working
> on a Cog-like machine in the next 5 years too.

No disrespect intended! I like Tilden robotics a lot. But would you
perhaps like to take a bet on that? Cog-level complexity/computation
using Nervous Nets in five years? I'll take a good Canadian whisky,
you can have any equivalent European bottle :)

Best,

Steve

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# sbolt@xs4all.nl # Steven Bolt # popular science monthly KIJK #
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