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iRobot's new bot handles staircases with aplomb
iRobot is working hard on a new generation of robots that won't be held up by simple obstructions such as staircases. The video above shows their latest effort, a stair-climbing robot designed to make it both up and down stairs without slipping or falling.
It's all quite impressive, I guess, but doesn't the age of actually mobile robots seem pretty far off? This guy can make his way up and down stairs, sure, but he sure takes his sweet time. I think I could outrun this thing pretty easily if it had it out for me is all that I'm saying. But you know what, maybe that's a good thing.
Via Bot Junkie
By beowuff at 3:08 PM ON 04/15/09
Even if they were after you and they were fast, it looks like with this technology, you would just have to make your stairs narrower. Then, they still couldn't climb them...
On that note, I wonder how this thing does handle on non standard width/height stairs?
By thexfile at 2:46 AM ON 04/16/09
i wonder why stil bother of we got an asimo ??
so far it's the best stair climbing robot around and it does not damage the stairs as this one looks like dooing...
it's a nice trie , but even on discovery's "prototipe this" they made a faster / more mobile device that climbes stairs al be it not on its own...
By ThresholdLurker at 10:09 AM ON 04/16/09
Man. good thing the Daleks didn't have these guys. Not that they need it since the reboot since they can now f'ing fly...
By Whomiga at 3:29 PM ON 04/16/09
The Daleks could already hover up stairs in the original series. The flying is just an upgrade to the hovering systems.
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Whomiga:
The Daleks could already hover up stairs in the original series. The flying is just an upgrade to the hovering sys...More »