Randomness - Tentacle Robots! The Real Applications!

NEW from Clemson! DARPA proudly presents:

ROBOTIC TENTICLES!

"Each Octarm is powered by compressed air and has surface pressure sensors, positional sensors and a camera mounted at its tip. This allows the limb to nimbly investigate pipes, tunnels and other narrow spaces."

"This ability, inherent in the OCTOR robots, gives OCTOR arms a huge advantage over conventional industrial robots."

They were developed through a project called OCTOR (sOft robotiC manipulaTORs), which involves several US universities and is funded by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
(What can I say, I like to know where my tax dollars are going. ^_^ )


What Can They Doo?

"Just like a real tentacle!" So I guess it does what all tentacles do when they go home from a hard days work?

It is not clear what military purposes the Octarms will be used for, but the limbs have also been attached to Talon robots, which are typically employed for reconnaissance and bomb disposal tasks.

Lets see it in Action!

"Attacking Prey" I can't even count the times I've needed an Octarm at the local pool. I mean, can YOU? ... I sure can't.

"Infiltrating Bunkers" Now you too can rest assured at night, knowing that if Al-Qaeda steals your Ice Cold Coke ... we can just steal it back in the morning. Not to mention punishments worse then Guantanamo Bay. O_O;

"Going Places You wouldn't?" Tennis ball roll under the dresser? Too lazy to get up? Can Your SPOT do that. Hmmm?

"Gentle Grip" Variable grip, good for getting any type of job done. Pressure sensors, oh yeaah.

What are they Really Used For?

You might be wondering.. What are they going to do when they aren’t at your local pool, or protecting the National Coke Industry?

The possibilities, they're mind boggling!

At this point I believe its pretty clear.

Still perplexed?
This conversation ought to clear everything up:

Alice: I can almost feel it fastening around my ankle right now.
Bob: Ankle? You must read different comics than I do. -_-;;
Alice: ~Oh~
Alice: Don't tell Japan! Think of the children!
Bob: Oh believe me
Bob: They will... They will.

>_<


Japan and their Robots

"Only one has been attached to a robot at a time, but the researchers say several could work together in future." :/

Now, all DARPA has to do is attach 6 or 7 of em' to the BigDog and let it loose on the streets.
Yeah, that should entertain Japan for a while. Let them deploy their Mobile Suits!

All it needs is wings!

While the US has StickyBot (YouTube), RiSE (YouTube) and BigDog (YouTube)
(BigDog can take some punishment! Skip to the last 1/4 after the first kick to see a better one.)

Japan has Real Transformers (YouTube),
Neat Gundam vs The Mazinger Battles (YouTube) (Cosplaying 40yr-olds yelling at 11yr-olds!),
Entertaining Fights! (YouTube) (Nice grapple-throw about half way through too),
OmniZero pwned by Majingaa T_T (YouTube),
Ninja Robots Wielding Blades! (YouTube)
and Gracefull Fan Dancing Teams (YouTube).

I believe we know where each's priorities lie! ^_^

(And I'm surprised the OCTOR didn't originate in Japan. :p )

--
I'll probably be back to add something about NHK ni youkoso episode one, but its not all typed up yet.. and I'm hungry. I've still got to rip out and resize screenshots from the 1280 version to replace the 640 ones.