Is this the last step in an unstoppable robot? Answered

I just saw this video via Laughing Squid's Twitter feed.

It's a small robot from Boston Dynamics (the people that brought you the Mule walking pack-robot) that can jump 30 feet straight up.

Now, imagine if they combined that leaping technology, and the ruggedness to survive the landings, with the terrain-crossing a flight capabilities of a Mini-Wheg MMALV, and you've got a robot that can get anywhere - as soon as the terrain gets too rough to clamber over, jump 30 feet straight up, and then either glide or fly under power to a better location!

Come on, roboteers, get to it!

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Discussions

rimar2000

7 years ago

Yes, these things are really amazing, but during my (brief) life I have seen repeatedly that great countries, capable of launching a bomb from an unmanned aircraft and make it into the keyhole, the first thing made when start a war is to bomb their own troops, or a hospital, or a school full of kids.

I'm beginning to suspect that they lie a little ...

Kiteman

Reply 7 years ago

One of the motivations for these robots (as well as delivering weapons) is also rescue.

lemonie

Reply 7 years ago

What do you rescue with a thing that size? Or are there plans to scale this up to the size of a truck..!?

L

Kiteman

Reply 7 years ago

It's the finding - the idea is to locate people in places that cannot be reached by humans. If you know where victims are, you can get straight to them, instead of moving whole, collapsed buildings, brick by brick, just in case there is somebody under them.

lemonie

Reply 7 years ago

-or on the roof.
It'd make Robot Wars more interesting, but I think that series is permanently-finished?

L

Kiteman

Reply 7 years ago

I think it is - ratings and what-not killed it off. Plenty of repeats on various satellite channels, though.