We are creating cylons!

[Romulan_spy]

Scientists are building robots, modeled after human anatomy with "bone", "muscle", "tendons" etc. Fascinating! The nuBSG concept of cylons that look and feel human may not be far away.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327223.900-robot-with-bones-moves-like-you-do.html

 

[Deckerd]

Or even Replicants?

 

[Romulan_spy]

Yes, Replicants too.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

I never realised they'd not done something like this before. I feel like we've gone backwards now. I assumed we were already at this level of robotics long ago.

 

[SilentP]

What gave you the impression that we went with the technically more complicated route first or already?* Most of the robots they show off, or at least the Japanese ones, are radically more 'simple' than human 'structures'.

*Forgetting the cliche of what happens when you 'assume', that is.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

It seemed the most logical route to have started down. I would not have thought given our current level of technology that moving robotic 'bone like' parts with tendon mimicking material was all that difficult.

 

[Middle Earther]

I found the home page for the robot interesting, too...

http://eccerobot.org/

Btw, I love the word anthropomimetic!!

 

[SilentP]

It seemed the most logical route to have started down. I would not have thought given our current level of technology that moving robotic 'bone like' parts with tendon mimicking material was all that difficult.

Well mimicing an existing organic system does have merit to it, but actually pulling it off is a lot more difficult compared to what can be done with mechanical/electrical components. The article itself says that even the most 'basic' movements, like raising an arm and moving it about, is fairly complex, especially when you compare it to the motors and pistons that already available and have been used fairly extensively by current robots.

A relatively similar analogy would be to why we don't have more walking robots. Sure we could just copy what already exists, and has existed for a long time in nature, but then again nature can't give living organisms wheels for the most part.

 

[Samurai8472]

To me that robot has the complexity of ASH from Alien.

 

[FordSVT]

It seemed the most logical route to have started down. I would not have thought given our current level of technology that moving robotic 'bone like' parts with tendon mimicking material was all that difficult.

That's because you're unaware of the current state of material science, sensors and computer technology and programming.

Sitting at home all day making assumptions without knowing anything isn't something you want to base your logical conclusions on.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

It seemed the most logical route to have started down. I would not have thought given our current level of technology that moving robotic 'bone like' parts with tendon mimicking material was all that difficult.

That's because you're unaware of the current state of material science, sensors and computer technology and programming.

Sitting at home all day making assumptions without knowing anything isn't something you want to base your logical conclusions on.

I thought our robotic technology level was further forward than what it is and so you attack me for it? I thought the logical place to begin with robotics was what they've just accomplished and you attack me for it?

There was no need for that kind of response. Honestly, i've had enough of these types of responses for today.

 

[Deckerd]

It seemed the most logical route to have started down. I would not have thought given our current level of technology that moving robotic 'bone like' parts with tendon mimicking material was all that difficult.

Well mimicing an existing organic system does have merit to it, but actually pulling it off is a lot more difficult compared to what can be done with mechanical/electrical components. The article itself says that even the most 'basic' movements, like raising an arm and moving it about, is fairly complex, especially when you compare it to the motors and pistons that already available and have been used fairly extensively by current robots.

A relatively similar analogy would be to why we don't have more walking robots. Sure we could just copy what already exists, and has existed for a long time in nature, but then again nature can't give living organisms wheels for the most part.

The arm is especially difficult. Prosthetic limb researchers have put decades of work into trying to produce a working arm that will do what a natural arm does, never mind replicating the grace and remarkable articulation of an arm.

 

[sojourner]

It seemed the most logical route to have started down. I would not have thought given our current level of technology that moving robotic 'bone like' parts with tendon mimicking material was all that difficult.

That's because you're unaware of the current state of material science, sensors and computer technology and programming.

Sitting at home all day making assumptions without knowing anything isn't something you want to base your logical conclusions on.

I thought our robotic technology level was further forward than what it is and so you attack me for it? I thought the logical place to begin with robotics was what they've just accomplished and you attack me for it?

There was no need for that kind of response. Honestly, i've had enough of these types of responses for today.

The problem is not so much the skeletal structure, but more the fact that it has taken this long to develop materials that can act as analogs to muscle. Muscle is an amazing mix of strength, elasticity, rigidness, and subtley all in a package that is very energy efficient and durable.

Add to this the problems of control, and you can begin to see why using simple motors with only a few variables each is where they started from.

The arm is especially difficult. Prosthetic limb researchers have put decades of work into trying to produce a working arm that will do what a natural arm does, never mind replicating the grace and remarkable articulation of an arm.

Now the big problem they are finding with artificial arms is anchoring. Most don't realize that alot of the arm's function relies on the fact that it is supported and anchored by the should bone structure and upper musculature. With out these things, it does not matter how strong the arm is, most actions will result in the arm pulling itself off the recipient. Google Dean Kamen and prosthetic arms to find some interesting reading and to see some amazing videos of the arm he is developing.

 

[CuttingEdge100]

Is this really a good idea, creating robots that look just like humans?

 

[Supreme Admiral]

I remember watching this on science channel this past Monday. He said himself that in 50 years from now, we won't be able to tell who's humans or robots.

But, CuttingEdge, almost as I recalled, he said that they're going to add emotions for robots to feeling. I find it very creepy. How far are we going to perfect robots that we've created? It's too dangerous, let emotions alone.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Next step: wire animal brains into the robots. Who's in line for an android body?

 

[All Seeing Eye]

Next step: wire animal brains into the robots. Who's in line for an android body?

If that was ever tried I go nuts. A lot of others no doubt would too. I'm mad at animal testing as it is but ripping out an animals brain and plugging it into a machine is a line that better not be crossed.

 

[Scout101]

but if the end result of that experiment is human immortality, can you really deny us that step?

 

[All Seeing Eye]

but if the end result of that experiment is human immortality, can you really deny us that step?

I don't even have to spend another second thinking about that question. My answer would be Yes.

 

[john titor]

Next step: wire animal brains into the robots. Who's in line for an android body?

If that was ever tried I go nuts. A lot of others no doubt would too. I'm mad at animal testing as it is but ripping out an animals brain and plugging it into a machine is a line that better not be crossed.

pfft then you might as well say eating animals is wrong. If its just a frog brain or something I doubt they'd mind.