Hank Fletcher
New Member
I decided to start this thread in response to recent interests that have cropped up on the forum with respect to bipedal robots. Yes, they're wholly impractical (although compared to a dalek or R2-D2, I'm not so sure), but there's no question the idea itself is as cool as all get out. I'm no psychiatrist, but if I was, I could probably make a career out of what I would call "the Giuseppe complex." But knowing that there's probably something pathological about this pursuit isn't what you came here to read, so let's get cracking.
You're doing it all wrong. Presume you've been doing it wrong all along, and everyone else has got it wrong, also. If you can get yourself to that stage, you've already made great strides beyond what anyone else has ever accomplished. Presuming everyone has been wrong will lead you to the next stage in building a bipedal robot: innovation. But before you move on from stage two, return to stage one: you've got it all wrong, and here's why.
There are already bipedal machines, and they're called humans. If there is a Giuseppe complex, the first step towards coming to terms with the complex is recognizing that the desire to build a bipedal robot is largely psychologically, and not utility, driven. You want to build a bipedal robot because you want to make something more human. This might seem like a digression, but it's not. In fact, it's a very practical step in making a bipedal robot. You want to make a bipedal robot because it's something you must do because you love it, and to that end it is a utilitarian venture, since anything else in life is merely service to your passion.
Knowing that the desire to build a bipedal robot is largely a psychological condition, in what way does that define the nature of your objective? This is important, because if you can define your objective, if you can articulate as best you can your goal, then you're a long way towards getting yourself from Point A (where you are now) to Point B (going jogging with C3P0).
So everyone's been wrong, and it's psychological. What does that mean to you? Or more fairly, what the heck am I talking about? To better explain where I'm coming from, let's talk about the RoboCup. If you don't know what that is, check it out:
https://www.robocup.org/
The idea in a nutshell is, well, it's right on the homepage:
The goal of the 2050 cup is a great incentive for young robot builders. Think of it: you could be the designer, owner, and coach of the best team in the most popular sport on the planet. But think what the limits might be from the humans: presume your robot will have to be about 6', 200lbs. Think about the challenges: your robot will have to be fast, flexible, damage-resistant, water-proof. Seems like a big challenge, right? But the goal is still a long way off. Psychologists say it generally takes about ten years of devotion to any one field to become an expert in that field. Multiply that by four, and that's where you'll be by 2050 - the top of one of the most lucrative athletic-entertainment activities in the world.
But how can you get started? Where do I get the nerve to say you and everyone else have been wrong so far? How can you get a leg-up on the competition today? My answer, as glib as it may seem at first, is for you to read this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walking
and come back with your ideas.
It's gonna happen, and some people are gonna make a lot of money from it, or at least have a heck of a lot of fun trying. Will that be you?
You're doing it all wrong. Presume you've been doing it wrong all along, and everyone else has got it wrong, also. If you can get yourself to that stage, you've already made great strides beyond what anyone else has ever accomplished. Presuming everyone has been wrong will lead you to the next stage in building a bipedal robot: innovation. But before you move on from stage two, return to stage one: you've got it all wrong, and here's why.
There are already bipedal machines, and they're called humans. If there is a Giuseppe complex, the first step towards coming to terms with the complex is recognizing that the desire to build a bipedal robot is largely psychologically, and not utility, driven. You want to build a bipedal robot because you want to make something more human. This might seem like a digression, but it's not. In fact, it's a very practical step in making a bipedal robot. You want to make a bipedal robot because it's something you must do because you love it, and to that end it is a utilitarian venture, since anything else in life is merely service to your passion.
Knowing that the desire to build a bipedal robot is largely a psychological condition, in what way does that define the nature of your objective? This is important, because if you can define your objective, if you can articulate as best you can your goal, then you're a long way towards getting yourself from Point A (where you are now) to Point B (going jogging with C3P0).
So everyone's been wrong, and it's psychological. What does that mean to you? Or more fairly, what the heck am I talking about? To better explain where I'm coming from, let's talk about the RoboCup. If you don't know what that is, check it out:
https://www.robocup.org/
The idea in a nutshell is, well, it's right on the homepage:
If there's one aspect of this amazing endeavour the organizers have failed to fully address, it's the human element. This is, in part, where the psychology really comes into play. Imagine you're a human soccer player: wouldn't you think it reasonable for you to put certain conditions in place about what the robots can be? Do you really want to share the field with ED209? A sliding tackle would be the least of your worries.By the year 2050,
develop a team of fully autonomous humanoid robots that can win against the human world soccer champion team.
The goal of the 2050 cup is a great incentive for young robot builders. Think of it: you could be the designer, owner, and coach of the best team in the most popular sport on the planet. But think what the limits might be from the humans: presume your robot will have to be about 6', 200lbs. Think about the challenges: your robot will have to be fast, flexible, damage-resistant, water-proof. Seems like a big challenge, right? But the goal is still a long way off. Psychologists say it generally takes about ten years of devotion to any one field to become an expert in that field. Multiply that by four, and that's where you'll be by 2050 - the top of one of the most lucrative athletic-entertainment activities in the world.
But how can you get started? Where do I get the nerve to say you and everyone else have been wrong so far? How can you get a leg-up on the competition today? My answer, as glib as it may seem at first, is for you to read this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walking
and come back with your ideas.
It's gonna happen, and some people are gonna make a lot of money from it, or at least have a heck of a lot of fun trying. Will that be you?
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