If you want to see man evolve into apes like the ones in the original Planet of the Apes, check out this time-lapse video, in which Emily Van Tassel transforms an ordinary man into an ape. Damn dirty apes! Damn dirty makeup artists.
Awesome job, Emily!
[via Mashable via Fashionably Geek]
Not content on landing several rovers on the surface of Mars, NASA's JPL team's been working on more earthly projects. RoboSimian is an ape-like robot designed for search-and-rescue missions that's expected to compete in the DARPA Robotics Challenge. It features four multi-jointed limbs with unique hands and no defined front or back -- allowing it to always face the right way. Thanks to its primate-like movement and posture, the robot will be able to navigate over difficult terrain, climb ladders and even drive vehicles (one of the DRC's requirements). While the project itself isn't new, JPL recently published an interesting video that shows RoboSimian gripping tools, lifting its own weight and balancing delicate objects. This means, of course, that robot monkeys will soon join spiders, cats and dogs in your dystopian nightmares. Video after the break.
Filed under: Robots
Source: JPL
This robot ape from the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) could be considered a cross between a humanoid and a quadruped. Most of the time it moves around on four limbs, but it can stand up on its hind legs too.
Gentlemen, we now have a fully functional and operational robot ape. This can’t end well. Prepare for Planet of the Robot Apes when they take over.
The robot ape part of a project called iStruct, which is focused on improving robotic mobility. But that doesn’t really matter. ROBOT APE!
Hopefully they can contain this thing before it grabs your Princess and start throwing barrels at you.
[via iEEE Spectrum]
Man evolved from apes. This isn’t new information, since the theory of evolution was drilled into our heads early on in school. And even though we’re just a few chromosomes different from these apes, the differences are massive. Apes look different, they act different, and they communicate differently as well. But the intelligence of these primates is advanced, compared to that of other animals.
In recent years, scientists have found new and improved ways to interact and “speak” with apes, through the use of laptops, computer screens and even iPads.
Researchers at the Bonobo Hope Great Ape Trust Sanctuary in Des Moines have developed a variety of custom software in order to communicate with these primates. But they need more funding to make their Bonobo Chat app a reality, and provide each of their apes with personal, interconnected keyboards that they can carry around wherever they go.
They also want to add the ability for the app to automatically translate English speech to Lexigrams that the apes understand, and vice versa. In addition, they want to allow the apes to use the app to interact with their environment, opening doors, operating vending machines and even operating robots. Yes, apes will soon be controlling their own robots from their iPads.
The Bonobo Chat App project is currently up for funding on Kickstarter, with pledges starting at $25.