Re:Linear, symmetric, self-selecting 14-bit molecular memris...
by fragmede on Thursday September 12, 2024 @10:19AM
(#41521320)
A very select group has tried for not very long, but I think the most gains in efficiency are going to come from giving bipedal robots rollerblades.
Re:Linear, symmetric, self-selecting 14-bit molecular memris...
by marcosdumay on Thursday September 12, 2024 @12:03PM
(#41522368)
As long as they have decent brakes... Because stairs and obstacles exist, and getting over them beats overall efficiency almost every time.
Re:Linear, symmetric, self-selecting 14-bit molecular memris...
by hwillis on Thursday September 12, 2024 @10:25AM
(#41521377)
Absolutely correct, evolution will never ever beat a 10 cent ABEC-7 bearing. Skateboards really changed manufacturing by making a specific size of wildly precise bearing incredibly cheap. One day a robot will be able to step directly onto ice skates, but meanwhile I'm looking forward to the blooper reel because it's gonna be funny as hell
Beating human locomotion in the general case is pretty far off. It's a combination of body plan, extreme optimization of joints and energy storage, and really good algorithms.
One killer feature of the human body is synovial fluid. It's very thin, non-newtonian, self-replenishing and contained in particularly low-friction bearing surfaces. It's certainly better than 99.9% of mechanical joints, because these surfaces filter, heal and re-lubricate themselves. Mechanical joints have sticky grease so they stay lubricated without maintenance, and work in the presence of water and grit. It's doubtful that any joint that doesn't heal itself can compete, long-term.
[1]: https://spectrum.ieee.org/durus-sri-ultra-efficient-humanoid...