<i>Robots are the next revolution, so why isn't anybody acting like it?</i><p><a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2380270" rel="nofollow">http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2380270</a><p>Seems like some people are.
Not to take away from the obvious coolness of it all, but am I the only one who was disappointed to see that "juggling" here didn't really mean "3 balls in the air at once"? The headline led me to believe it would resemble a circus routine...
These things feel like the iPad of robots, as in basic hardware that's massively customizable via software.<p>Check out their YouTube channel:<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ETHZurichIDSC" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/user/ETHZurichIDSC</a>
These robots seem to be using external sensors (cameras mounted in the room, not just on the robot's body).<p>Of course, the achievement of the research group is impressive, but for those excited about the possibilities to use such robots right now: it's still a long way till relying just on internal sensors and using such robots in arbitrary environment.
I don't know why my instinct is to anthropomorphize them, but somehow they're goddamned _cute_. Look! Robots playing ping pong!<p>A robot dog might be in my future :/
Why aren't they using these in Fukushima:<p><a href="http://metamodern.com/2011/03/24/fukushima-%E2%80%94-where-are-the-parrots/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Metamodern+%28Metamodern%29" rel="nofollow">http://metamodern.com/2011/03/24/fukushima-%E2%80%94-where-a...</a>
I guess if it's Engadget it's not blogspam?<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ETHZurichIDSC" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/user/ETHZurichIDSC</a>
These young whippersnapper roboticists have it so easy these days, what with their new fangled flying robots. Back in my day, we were happy if we could get our robots to walk. In the snow. Up hill. Both ways.
I feel like I'm watching what would be R&D for the movie <i>Batteries Not Included</i> if it were being made now.<p>All joking aside, I love these things. Logistically, is there any hope of a solar panel attachment to keep them alive longer?
Here's another video of quadrocopters flying through windows: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7X0_6o9J10" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7X0_6o9J10</a><p>Fascinating and slightly disturbing at the same time.
So, how long until police/military are using these against people?<p>Definitely within our lifetimes, but this decade?<p>By the way, the programming looking like it's REACTING to the ball, not PREDICTING how it will respond be based on it's behavior.
I'm salivating for the opportunity to write AI for this. Reminds me of these drones I saw at GDC: <a href="http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/03/05/gdc-2011-a-r-drone-flying-remote-control-plane-demo-video/" rel="nofollow">http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/03/05/gdc-2011-a-r-drone-f...</a>
I'd find it more interesting if you actually managed to get them to compete against each other. They're not playing pong, quite the opposite.<p>I'd like to see them paint one red and one blue and make them compete in an airborne ping-pong match.
I have a question.<p>It seems like they perform better when they are two than one.<p>I.e. when it's only one QC it lost the ball quite quickly.<p>Is this telling of something or is that just coincidence?