Comments on: Baby steps for Dexter the robot

Start-up Anybots sees a day when robots will do many things that humans now do. For now, though, they're just working on staying upright.
Photos: Meet Dexter and Monty, the Anybots
Video: Humanoid robot trains to do the dirty work

[inachu]

preemptive class action law suits?

Make sure the first generation robots will not be used to kill humans.

[chuchucuhi]

once the...

Well we'll certainly need robots I mean someone needs to do the jobs Americans don't want to do now and since people don't like immigrants maybe they'll like robots.

[lingsun]

It's not a real robot. It just simulates one.

All the robot stories on CNET have the same flaw. They neglect to point out that these "robots" have no intellect or consciousness whatsoever. They aren't robots in the classic sense.

[brichard]

Robot Strong AI

I personally don't need to be told that a "Robot" is not synonymous to "Strong AI" nor does it require the ability to pass the "Turing Test" in order to be labelled a "Robot".

Robot:
1. a machine that resembles a human and does mechanical, routine tasks on command.
2. any machine or mechanical device that operates automatically with humanlike skill.

We may or may not ever see the day where robots like the Terminator, the Cylons, Data or Bender walk among us. I'll let the future answer that one.

[Fil0403]

Really?

If you have watched the video you wouldn't have humilliated yourself in public like that.

[horse7]

donkey robot (YouTube)

While these guys are struggling to make a humanoid 'bot walk, the Boston Dynamics folks (no affiliation) have made a quadruped that moves independently. Fascinating to watch, and has significant resistance to upset.

Anybots better get their act together.

[Dachi]

Why always humanoid?

So here we have a > $40,000 robot that with a little patience and step by step instructions from a human can barely move itself from one place to another.

If that were not impressive enough, using a remote control we can make it pick up objects weighing an incredible ..35 pounds, wow!



Robotics in the home are going to follow 2 paths, the ones are serve a function are going to mostly follow robotics in manufacturing, where they don't look much like humans (ie Roomba).

And toy robotics on the other hand may look like humans, but won't be as useful.

Anyone who thinks differently has read a few too many science fiction novels.

[quantum1010]

Why humanoids...

Wrong. While Anybots may not be the company to do it (looking at their efforts to date), there are just about an infinite number of advantages to humanoids -- far too many to list here. Anyone who thinks otherwise simply hasn't given it enough thought.

[horse7]

donkey robot (YouTube)

While these guys are struggling to make a humanoid 'bot walk, the Boston Dynamics folks (no affiliation) have made a quadruped that moves independently. Fascinating to watch, and has significant resistance to upset.

Anybots better get their act together.

[quantum1010]

Not a first, and the Anybots predicament..

Yes, humanoid robots are the future. Unfortunately for Anybots, they have already gotten into a predicament about their credibility by claiming on their site that this robot is the "first dynamically balancing biped robot." Apparently not true. Those following humanoid robot development claim otherwise, and Anybots' claim is already starting to bite them.