Monday, December 16, 2013

Google has bought 8 Robot Companies now

If you think about what Google is trying to do by cornering the fast moving robot market so to speak, first you have to realize that Google's primary function has never been military. So, I could imagine Google doing to 2 and 4 legged robots what they did to self driving cars. That probably would be the best way to look at all this 5 years from now.

Also, the guy that was in charge of developing the Android operating system for cell phones is now overall in charge of Google's robotic operations as well.

For example, Wildcat (a fast moved four legged robot) (part of what Google Bought) can move now at 28 mph and they expect to engineer it to move at 40 mph. I could imagine a policeman or a marine or a Navy Seal on one of these going 40 mph with a full load over flat terrain and then slowing down for rocks or snow. Because this sort of thing can go through snow likely up to 3 feet deep and over large rocks and even over ice. However, over slippery terrain just like with a horse you might want to get off and walk in front of or behind it so it doesn't fall over like a motocycle and crush your feet or legs. I've had a Belgian horse step on my foot before. Luckily, I was dismounting and my shoe was sideways otherwise my foot would have been crushed because I was only wearing tennis shoes at the time. So, heavy robots (likely 200 to 400 pounds or more) sort of like the weight of a large motorcycle you would have to take precautions so you didn't accidentally die around them especially in rough country.

However, imagine you are riding one across level ground at 40 mph and suddenly there is an EMP (electromagnetic pulse). Sorry, you would just be dead at that point because nothing electrical works when an EMP happens. It likely would just freeze up with you and it skidding along the ground in awkward ways. AT least if you were in a self driving car you might have some sort of chance of surviving the situation because you wouldn't just be right out in the open unprotected.

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