Goo
December 2, 2009 7:57 PM Subscribe
Yes, but can they teach it to keep a dungeon clean?
posted by felix betachat at 8:04 PM on December 2, 2009 [11 favorites]
posted by felix betachat at 8:04 PM on December 2, 2009 [11 favorites]
Fucking awesome.
Mmmmmm.... jammable slurry sounds delicious.
Did anybody else notice that it was an inflatable 20-sider? This is like some Lovecraft-obsessed role-playing robot nerd's dream/nightmare come to life.
posted by idiopath at 8:21 PM on December 2, 2009 [8 favorites]
Mmmmmm.... jammable slurry sounds delicious.
Did anybody else notice that it was an inflatable 20-sider? This is like some Lovecraft-obsessed role-playing robot nerd's dream/nightmare come to life.
posted by idiopath at 8:21 PM on December 2, 2009 [8 favorites]
AKIRAAAAAAAA
posted by stavrogin at 8:22 PM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by stavrogin at 8:22 PM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.
posted by The Deej at 8:23 PM on December 2, 2009 [14 favorites]
posted by The Deej at 8:23 PM on December 2, 2009 [14 favorites]
...and I will keep him and call him Squishy. And he will be my Squishy. Come here little Squishy...
posted by TooFewShoes at 8:24 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by TooFewShoes at 8:24 PM on December 2, 2009
Soon it will be hunting down Patrick McGoohan.
posted by drdanger at 8:26 PM on December 2, 2009 [15 favorites]
posted by drdanger at 8:26 PM on December 2, 2009 [15 favorites]
Whooa! I was not expecting it to throb and pulse like that. The techno beat was also startling.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 8:26 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by Solon and Thanks at 8:26 PM on December 2, 2009
The techno beat was also startling.
This was the original soundtrack.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 8:29 PM on December 2, 2009
This was the original soundtrack.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 8:29 PM on December 2, 2009
unleash a few thousand of those on mars to scare any life forms out of their hiding places.
posted by Fupped Duck at 8:33 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by Fupped Duck at 8:33 PM on December 2, 2009
The stop-motion animation was also pretty cute.
posted by you're a kitty! at 8:37 PM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by you're a kitty! at 8:37 PM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Gosh, the next 20 years are going to be fun, methinks. I just know a robot explosion is coming!
posted by niccolo at 8:41 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by niccolo at 8:41 PM on December 2, 2009
Oh man, now all they have to do is light up SkyNet and we're toast.
posted by JaredSeth at 8:48 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by JaredSeth at 8:48 PM on December 2, 2009
Here I was expecting Rush Limbaugh had gone cyborg. Well, this is neat too.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 8:57 PM on December 2, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by Hardcore Poser at 8:57 PM on December 2, 2009 [3 favorites]
Here I was expecting Rush Limbaugh had gone cyborg.
Rush Limbaugh went cyborg a long time ago.
posted by vibrotronica at 9:04 PM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Rush Limbaugh went cyborg a long time ago.
posted by vibrotronica at 9:04 PM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
I loved the stop-motion animation for explaining the concept -- and right up until the prototype inflated and started moving, I was thinking "cool!"
Then it moved, and I got an instant visceral reaction of "KILL IT WITH FIRE".
But now I just think it's cool again.
posted by nonspecialist at 9:06 PM on December 2, 2009 [3 favorites]
Then it moved, and I got an instant visceral reaction of "KILL IT WITH FIRE".
But now I just think it's cool again.
posted by nonspecialist at 9:06 PM on December 2, 2009 [3 favorites]
WHEREAS I am a complete human of being of sound body and mind, and WHEREAS one of these things or their grandkids will eventually kill me for "the horrible persecution visited upon our Furby ancestors", and WHEREAS I really like saying WHEREAS, the METAFILTER MEMBER who manages to launch the freaky blob-bot and the rival hivemind controlling it into the sun shall be entitled to collect ALL (100%) of MY STUFF upon my death.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 9:18 PM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 9:18 PM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Rush Limbaugh went cyborg a long time ago.
"He's more machine now, than man; twisted and evil." [/benkenobi]
posted by Jon_Evil at 9:36 PM on December 2, 2009 [4 favorites]
"He's more machine now, than man; twisted and evil." [/benkenobi]
posted by Jon_Evil at 9:36 PM on December 2, 2009 [4 favorites]
Sponsored by DARPA. I suspect this will end up being used for OtherCulture Jamming as much as anything.
posted by Rumple at 9:51 PM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Rumple at 9:51 PM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Awww, they blow up so fast...
posted by Awakened at 9:56 PM on December 2, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by Awakened at 9:56 PM on December 2, 2009 [3 favorites]
Amorphous blob robot takes first steps
I'm sorry, but that blob is totally morphous.
posted by shmegegge at 10:22 PM on December 2, 2009
I'm sorry, but that blob is totally morphous.
posted by shmegegge at 10:22 PM on December 2, 2009
That techno soundtrack was amazingly out of place.
I would have voted for the maddening, repetitive piping of daemon flutes.
posted by JHarris at 10:40 PM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
I would have voted for the maddening, repetitive piping of daemon flutes.
posted by JHarris at 10:40 PM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
According to Google at least, morphous == amorphous*. therefore a = 1? or ∞? or 0? Discuss.
posted by mhjb at 10:43 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by mhjb at 10:43 PM on December 2, 2009
For a better soundtrack, load this up (but don't start the video on the left until the video on the right is at 1:54.)
posted by davejay at 10:47 PM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by davejay at 10:47 PM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
drdanger mentioned it first, but we need a video.
posted by eye of newt at 10:56 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by eye of newt at 10:56 PM on December 2, 2009
I've often thought we always needed spontaneous robotic nut sacks.
posted by quadog at 11:19 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by quadog at 11:19 PM on December 2, 2009
"No, no psionicists; If you ask to play one again I'm going to rip out your nuts and replace them with D20s"
"Huh, that gives me an idea."
posted by BrotherCaine at 11:39 PM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
"Huh, that gives me an idea."
posted by BrotherCaine at 11:39 PM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
@davejay Is there a video in existence that yackity sax won't make super hilarious?
posted by sredefer at 11:57 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by sredefer at 11:57 PM on December 2, 2009
Benny Hill, ironically.
posted by fleacircus at 12:06 AM on December 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
posted by fleacircus at 12:06 AM on December 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
[ Aww. ]
[ Isn't it cute? ]
[ Of course, it's only a matter of time before it comes for you and your family. ]
[ Probably best to kill it now. ]
[ I saw a spiky death pit over there. ]
[ -With concern, the Sign Painter ]
posted by JHarris at 1:25 AM on December 3, 2009 [7 favorites]
[ Isn't it cute? ]
[ Of course, it's only a matter of time before it comes for you and your family. ]
[ Probably best to kill it now. ]
[ I saw a spiky death pit over there. ]
[ -With concern, the Sign Painter ]
posted by JHarris at 1:25 AM on December 3, 2009 [7 favorites]
I can has iShoggoth?
posted by Eideteker at 4:36 AM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Eideteker at 4:36 AM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
I am always saddened when I see tremendously cool robots with thick ropes of computer cords tethering them to their "brains". How cool would it be to see that little guy rolling over the tundras, bouncing gleeful and free, out in the wild as I'm sure its creators intended?
In any case, I can't fear anything that could be lobotomised with the judicious use of garden shears.
posted by Jilder at 6:14 AM on December 3, 2009
In any case, I can't fear anything that could be lobotomised with the judicious use of garden shears.
posted by Jilder at 6:14 AM on December 3, 2009
i watched this on mute in the library; do the cords connecting to it supply the air/fluid/whatever?
if so, what are the prospects for storing the air within the blob itself? wouldn't that decrease its overall, uh, squishability, since you'd have some kind of sac inside which might prevent extreme distortions?
if you can't make it roam free, then all you've got is an interesting appendage. :/
posted by edguardo at 7:57 AM on December 3, 2009
if so, what are the prospects for storing the air within the blob itself? wouldn't that decrease its overall, uh, squishability, since you'd have some kind of sac inside which might prevent extreme distortions?
if you can't make it roam free, then all you've got is an interesting appendage. :/
posted by edguardo at 7:57 AM on December 3, 2009
I am always saddened when I see tremendously cool robots with thick ropes of computer cords tethering them to their "brains". How cool would it be to see that little guy rolling over the tundras, bouncing gleeful and free, out in the wild as I'm sure its creators intended?
In any case, I can't fear anything that could be lobotomised with the judicious use of garden shears.
My SO and I were talking about this, and assuming all those are doing is supplying air and or an electrical charge, it wouldn't seem to difficult to embed a small pump and transmitter inside to free it.
Very cool stuff though.
posted by Big_B at 8:12 AM on December 3, 2009
In any case, I can't fear anything that could be lobotomised with the judicious use of garden shears.
My SO and I were talking about this, and assuming all those are doing is supplying air and or an electrical charge, it wouldn't seem to difficult to embed a small pump and transmitter inside to free it.
Very cool stuff though.
posted by Big_B at 8:12 AM on December 3, 2009
A friend of mine from grad school is either working on this exact project, or one very similar. They built a robot that works via jamming of granular materials with DARPA money. My friend said it moved very slowly (sure enough, in the lower right hand corner of the video, you can see "x8" written). So instead of maddening drums and piping flutes, think maybe... tuba or something ---the chief tactical strength of this robot would be its ability to imitate a stationary object.
I'll let you guys in on a secret. My friend and his advisor want to study the physics of granular materials. They need money. Physicists can't get money now (well, it's much more difficult than in the past). So they built a robot. It's not so sad, because it's a really cool robot, but it's a little sad because granular materials are cool, very complicated, and absolutely ubiquitous. Our lack of understanding of jamming causes loss of money and deaths. Plus it should be feasible for a scientist to study granular materials because they're cool. Well, that's my opinion, although I can understand non-scientists feeling differently.
posted by Humanzee at 8:44 AM on December 3, 2009 [6 favorites]
I'll let you guys in on a secret. My friend and his advisor want to study the physics of granular materials. They need money. Physicists can't get money now (well, it's much more difficult than in the past). So they built a robot. It's not so sad, because it's a really cool robot, but it's a little sad because granular materials are cool, very complicated, and absolutely ubiquitous. Our lack of understanding of jamming causes loss of money and deaths. Plus it should be feasible for a scientist to study granular materials because they're cool. Well, that's my opinion, although I can understand non-scientists feeling differently.
posted by Humanzee at 8:44 AM on December 3, 2009 [6 favorites]
Our lack of understanding of jamming causes loss of money and deaths.
Not that I disagree with your premise, but what benefits would a deeper understand of "jamming" reveal?
Very cool project, thanks for posting it.
posted by Pantengliopoli at 9:15 AM on December 3, 2009
Not that I disagree with your premise, but what benefits would a deeper understand of "jamming" reveal?
Very cool project, thanks for posting it.
posted by Pantengliopoli at 9:15 AM on December 3, 2009
My SO and I were talking about this, and assuming all those are doing is supplying air and or an electrical charge, it wouldn't seem to difficult to embed a small pump and transmitter inside to free it.
It's probably attached to the computer controlling its movements.
posted by Jilder at 9:41 AM on December 3, 2009
It's probably attached to the computer controlling its movements.
posted by Jilder at 9:41 AM on December 3, 2009
Ah, Science, are there any hairs on the back of my neck you cannot make stand at attention?
posted by CynicalKnight at 10:53 AM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by CynicalKnight at 10:53 AM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
I think this page offers a good short summary of some of the problems associated with jamming. In short, granular materials can have a rapid, unexpected transition between jammed and unjammed states. This can cause flow blockages and structural failures when flowing granular materials jam. It can cause avalanches, sinkholes, or liquefaction when granular materials unjam. It would be hugely beneficial to be able to predict and/or control these transitions (and we can, to some extent now).
posted by Humanzee at 11:33 AM on December 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Humanzee at 11:33 AM on December 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
Of course -- thanks Humanzee. That makes sense now that you've said it, but I couldn't put my finger on what the benefits could be. We've had some significant landslides in Washington in the last couple of years that were probably a result of liquefaction.
posted by Pantengliopoli at 12:41 PM on December 3, 2009
posted by Pantengliopoli at 12:41 PM on December 3, 2009
@davejay Is there a video in existence that yackity sax won't make super hilarious?
@seredefer no, no there is not.
posted by davejay at 4:04 PM on December 3, 2009
@seredefer no, no there is not.
posted by davejay at 4:04 PM on December 3, 2009
Granular materials also transmit a lot of their stress through force chains or contact networks (some good descriptions here)— the resulting behavior in bulk can be pretty counterintuitive; eg, you can't safely treat the contents of a grain silo as a liquid.
posted by hattifattener at 11:51 PM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by hattifattener at 11:51 PM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
how do we make it kill?
posted by Capt Jingo at 8:41 AM on December 4, 2009
posted by Capt Jingo at 8:41 AM on December 4, 2009
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