Robot Jockey, the sport that never was

Robotics


Before BigDog and LittleDog, Boston Dynamics Director Martin Buehler was messing around with single-leg motility, here via the Robot Jockey, a sort of semi-self-balancing pogo stick under a motorcycle frame. On Buehler’s website, you can see the evolution, from these monoped prototypes up to the four-legged critters we see bouncing around in BD test videos today. With the rider in full motorcycle regalia and the Van Halen soundtrack, this looks like some sort of misguided extreme sport that never quite got off the ground… er so speak.

Martin Buehler – Link

Related:

  • Insanely cool, creepy “LittleDog” robot – Link
  • Robotic pack mule – Link

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Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. His free weekly-ish maker tips newsletter can be found at garstipsandtools.com.

View more articles by Gareth Branwyn
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