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Robotic Penguins

Posted April 23, 2009 9:05 AM

From Slashdot:

Robotic penguins were unveiled by German engineering firm Festo this week. Using their flippers, the mechanical penguins (video) can paddle through water just like real ones, while larger helium-filled designs can "swim" through the air. The penguins are on show at the Hannover Messe Trade Exhibition in Germany. Each penguin carries 3D sonar which is used to monitor its surroundings and avoid collisions with walls or other penguins.

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The Engineer
Engineering Fields - Engineering Physics - Physics... United States - Member - NY Popular Science - Genetics - Organic Chemistry... Popular Science - Cosmology - New Member Ingeniería en Español - Nuevo Miembro - New Member

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#1

Re: Robotic Penguins

04/23/2009 11:15 AM

Are you kidding me? What are these Germans thinking? Am I doomed to be Cassandra on the Penguin Threat??

In the past I've posted warnings of the threat of Penguins:

Are we really going to worry about these savage monsters going extinct? Sure they look cute and cuddly when they are young;

But very soon they grow up and become vicious merciless predators who are waaay too organized for my liking;

If you are foolish enough to turn your back on them they can form up quickly:

And God help you if you give them time to conscript;

I say the enemy of my penguin enemy is my global warming friend.

Now we are making robots of them, despite movie after movie that tries to warn of of the threat of robots:



Look at this picture of John Connor living in a post apocolyptic hell filled with robots trying to eradicate the human race......does he look happy to you?...do you think this guy really needs robotic penguins hunting him too?

Think Germany. Think. I would have expected this from the Japanese, lets face it, they love building robots.....

I think I'm digressing.....I'll stop now.

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Power-User

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#3
In reply to #1

Re: Robotic Penguins

04/24/2009 7:39 AM

Thank you Roger Pink, that was quite funny and gave me the "pick-up" I needed this morning.

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Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - Ancient Weapon Enthusiast United States - US - Statue of Liberty - Viva la Revolucion!

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#4
In reply to #1

Re: Robotic Penguins

04/24/2009 4:00 PM

BEWARE THE PENGUIN APOCOLYOPSE WILL DEVOUR YOU ALL!!!!

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Power-User

Join Date: Aug 2006
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#2

Re: Robotic Penguins

04/24/2009 5:56 AM

I don't know about robot penguins but Flying Penguins will be seen in Westport NY this Saturday....

http://www.thetech.org/about/press/index.php?id=198

Nearly 4,000 expected at 22nd annual Tech Challenge: Explore the Volcano!
SAN JOSE, SILICON VALLEY, Calif., Thursday April 23 - From San Jose and San Diego and New York they will come. The "Super Mario Sisters." The "Men in Magna" and "We're Bringin' Sexy Chem." Though the teams hail from all corners of the Bay Area - and as far away as the East Coast - they are all of singular purpose: to emerge victorious in this, The Tech Challenge 2009.

Nearly 250 squads - including the Flying Penguins from Keeseville, N.Y., and Team Hot Lava Rocks and Team Explosion from the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego - will vie for top honors Saturday in this year's challenge, Explore the Volcano! Teams - some donning excessively ornate costumes - must design a delivery device to transport sensor packages to the heart of a volcano.

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