By now it's probably obviously robots and I share a deeply ambivalent relationship—one where I waffle between being very impressed by the technology and wondering why engineers seem absolutely determined to bring about a world run by machines. (It can’t be paranoia if it’s true, ok?) Now, thanks to researchers like Gajamohan Mohanarajah and her team, our robot overlords won’t just be smarter than us, but more graceful too:
Meet Cubli, humanity's doom.
Say hello to the most recent version of Cubli, a 15cmx15cm cube-shaped robot that’s decked out with three reaction wheels and a series of intelligent balancing sensors and algorithms, allowing it to gracefully and easily control its movement and momentum. You might remember the little guy from when its creators, a team of researchers at the Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control in Switzerland, presented it at last year’s Europeon Control Conerence in Zurich. But back then, it was just a prototype–now, it's an enclosed, wireless cube tha can stand, hope on its edge, balance itself, and even pirouette on its corner. It can walk by coordinating the movements of all three wheels each of which is attached to a DC motor and motor controllers, as well as inertial sensors. It's pretty cute, I'll admit.
Scientists be like
Yes, it’s an adorable little cube—but I’m not being hyperbolic by saying that its technology will have a profound effect on future AIs. Using Cubli’s tech, future machines will gain the ability to actively react, respond and adapt to their environments. They’ll be able to move faster, better, and more efficiently than ever before.
Meaning they could, say, dodge grenades being tossed at them during the war for Earth by pirouetting like a ballerina, and then eradicate us all using battle plans they created with their incredibly sophisticated intelligence systems.
Hypothetically speaking.
Source Discovery News
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