Star Wars: Blogs | Continuity, Criticisms, and Captain Panaka

Continuity, Criticisms, and Captain Panaka

by: Dan Wallace

date posted: Mar 09, 2006 3:10 PM | updated: Mar 21, 2006 8:51 AM

More Freaky Robots

As demonstrated here, I've got a jones for real-world robotics (or at least things that look like real-world robotics). Here's two of the coolest, freakiest robots yet created:

A real-life Transformer, as demonstrated at what looks like a Japanese electronics show. Look at that thing go! And when can I buy one?

The "Robotic Mule," which simultaneously fascinated me and gave me a serious case of the creeps. Seriously, check out the video and see how it moves. It's eerie, right? Now imagine it heading straight for you, intending to kill you. Yeah, you'll have nightmares tonight. You're welcome.

http://blogs.starwars.com/danwallace/36

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	Rive Caedo Rive's Uncharted Settlements
date Posted: Mar 09, 2006 3:21 PM Hm... Hadn't seen either of those. The transformer is neat but reminds me of "aquacars" they're not great cars and they ain't great robots... er... boats. The robotic mule on the other hand is very impressive and creepy.... Of course I bet it looks like a turtle if you manage to knock it completely over.

	DarthVicomte Vicomte's Blog Extravaganza (Now Defunct)
date Posted: Mar 09, 2006 3:26 PM Yeah, you'll have nightmares tonight. You're welcome. It reminds me of the walking bathtub from Nightmare Before Christmas. And yes, it is very creepy.

	Rogue_Follower What Ever Happened to Grambo the Worrt?
date Posted: Mar 09, 2006 3:55 PM But so frickin' awesome. Nice to know you keep up with the real-world robotics industry, Dan.

	NerfHerdersAnonymous Life, the Star Wars Universe and Everything
date Posted: Mar 09, 2006 5:07 PM What makes it creepy is that the "legs" are covered with brown material and they look as if two human pairs of legs (both facing inward without feet) were attached to a machine. Yeah, that was a little freaky. Amazing...especially when they pushed it to test it's balance programming. wow.

	Joe Corroney Drawing in the Empire
date Posted: Mar 09, 2006 6:57 PM Those robots were awesome, thanks for sharing!

jkthunder
Seven Pieces

date Posted: Mar 09, 2006 7:36 PM

I saw that on G4 the other night and it really creeped me out too. It doesnt help that they put those "stockings" over the mechanical legs making them look a bit more organic. It really moves very animal-like. Maybe if they gave the thing a head it would be a bit more personable. Sort of like the scene in the Sandcrawler in ANH with partially dismembered droids - that freaked me out too a bit when I was a kid.

The buzzing noise the mule makes is another creep factor element.

jkthunder
Seven Pieces

date Posted: Mar 09, 2006 7:40 PM

Oh, and I was going to say - Is Boston Dynamics (the maker of the BigDog mule) the same company that makes the Boston Robotic Arm (they make a mechanical prosthetic arm eerily similar to Luke's)?

Another thing about BigDog - The photo in the link has the knees in a different formation from what we see in the video. In the photo knees all face one direction, and in the video the knees all point in.

	Bekkara The Wroshyr Tree
date Posted: Mar 10, 2006 7:19 AM That Robotic Mule reminds me of AMEE in Red Planet -- I kept waiting for it to flip itself over or stand up and start choking one of the people that kicked it. Did you happen to see the RISE Robot that can walk up walls? Talk about creepy -- it looks like a bug. It gave me the creepy-crawlies just watching it.

	eddie Obsessive Fanboy Eddie and his Timeline Chronicles
date Posted: Mar 10, 2006 9:50 AM ... oops, pressed the wrong button (what do you want with my 2-year old on my lap watching DVD)... continued... cyborg: machinery grafted upon organic legs... I know I will have nightmares tonight!!!

	eddie Obsessive Fanboy Eddie and his Timeline Chronicles
date Posted: Mar 10, 2006 9:51 AM Again: This robotic mule really is very creepy! It almost looks like a cyborg: machinery grafted upon organic legs... I know I will have nightmares tonight!!!

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