UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > General Vintage Technology > General Vintage Technology Discussions

Notices

General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 5th Apr 2021, 7:51 pm   #21
dryjoint
Tetrode
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK.
Posts: 60
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

Hello Peter - the article from Practical Mechanics seems to be the same one. It doesn't look as big as I first thought, but still a hefty bit of kit.
dryjoint is offline  
Old 5th Apr 2021, 8:28 pm   #22
G6Tanuki
Dekatron
 
G6Tanuki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,953
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

Personally, I rather like the idea that "The Robots are coming" - by devolving humdrum low-intrinsic-value tasks to machinery it frees-up human talent which can be employed on far more visionary- and well-paid - tasks!

Truth is, "The Robots" are already here. I can tell Android-Auto in my car "get me the fastest route to Southampton" and ~~It~~ does its stuff, knowing the motorway-network and melding this with realtime congestion-data.

[And yes, I have a 1970s Bartholomew road-atlas as a baxckup, but in the last decade I've not needed it, just as I've -never- needed to use the AA-phone-box key I was issued-with in 1976]

We are the Robots - as Kraftwerk said. . . . .

https://youtu.be/SaoBbCC66I4
G6Tanuki is offline  
Old 5th Apr 2021, 8:45 pm   #23
MotorBikeLes
Nonode
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Kirk Michael, Isle of Man
Posts: 2,346
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

The picture in the Eagle shows a rear corner view of the robot holding what is clearly a thermionic valve, so probably the Mullard one.
Les.
MotorBikeLes is offline  
Old 5th Apr 2021, 9:19 pm   #24
Dave Moll
Dekatron
 
Dave Moll's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK
Posts: 6,118
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

Quote:
Originally Posted by G6Tanuki View Post
I've -never- needed to use the AA-phone-box key I was issued-with in 1976
As an aside, these are no longer functional anyway. Any surviving AA boxes aren't openable using said key.
__________________
Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)
Dave Moll is offline  
Old 5th Apr 2021, 10:53 pm   #25
emeritus
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,316
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

From the articles on the site identified in #7 it seems that the robot still exists in a shop in the US, but is no longer operational, seemingly due to deteriorated wiring.

I just drew a blank searching for a combination of Basset Lowke and robot. As I metioned, there is no mention of the robot in the rest of the book, only that the photo was from the BL archive, but why would it be there if BL hadn't had some involvement? The book refers to BL having built equipment of considerable complexity for the war department during WWII, such as full-sized working anti-aircraft and naval guns for training gunners. The guns fired ball bearings at moving miniature models of aircraft and E-boats, and the appropriate synchronised sound effects were provided. Perhaps it was a contractual requirement not to mention their involvement: when I was with Plessey in the 1970's a project I was involved with had such a requirement in respect of a unit we were designing and making for another company.

Last edited by emeritus; 5th Apr 2021 at 10:58 pm. Reason: typos
emeritus is online now  
Old 6th Apr 2021, 7:10 pm   #26
Brigham
Octode
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Co. Durham, UK.
Posts: 1,111
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

Wasn't 'Eric' a famous robot, way back.
There were even fortune-teller versions of him.
Brigham is offline  
Old 6th Apr 2021, 9:06 pm   #27
bluepilot
Heptode
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Duffort, Gers, France
Posts: 714
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

Radio man walks, talks and YODELS!
Radio Man
Lucky there aren't too many of those around.
__________________
Stuart

The golden age is always yesterday - Asa Briggs
bluepilot is offline  
Old 6th Apr 2021, 9:46 pm   #28
Sideband
Dekatron
 
Sideband's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 7,549
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

I used to love the idea of robots when I was a kid. In fact one particular robot inspired me to buy 'Lion' comic....that was Robot Archie. Never missed any of his stories.

There don't appear to be any stories of Archie on the Web but I found a Wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robot_Archie
__________________
There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....
Sideband is offline  
Old 7th Apr 2021, 7:17 am   #29
Restoration73
Nonode
 
Restoration73's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Surbiton, SW London, UK.
Posts: 2,801
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

"Miss Honeywell" was featured in Practical Electronics in 1968 ;

https://www.britishpathe.com/workspa...13247/33mnN7nZ
Restoration73 is offline  
Old 7th Apr 2021, 8:25 am   #30
Craig Sawyers
Dekatron
 
Craig Sawyers's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Oxford, UK.
Posts: 4,941
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

Fast forward though the decades, and this is the state of the art in mechanical man (and dog, and other things)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn3KWM1kuAw
Craig Sawyers is offline  
Old 7th Apr 2021, 8:52 am   #31
Dave Moll
Dekatron
 
Dave Moll's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK
Posts: 6,118
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

Let us not forget Robert the Robot from Fireball XL5. On second thoughts, perhaps we should forget him!
__________________
Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)
Dave Moll is offline  
Old 7th Apr 2021, 8:54 am   #32
peter_scott
Dekatron
 
peter_scott's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Edinburgh, UK.
Posts: 3,273
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Craig Sawyers View Post
Fast forward though the decades, and this is the state of the art in mechanical man (and dog, and other things)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn3KWM1kuAw

Now that is very impressive! But is it impressive robotics or impressive video graphics?

Peter
peter_scott is offline  
Old 7th Apr 2021, 8:59 am   #33
Craig Sawyers
Dekatron
 
Craig Sawyers's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Oxford, UK.
Posts: 4,941
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

It is definitely real time, and real. https://www.bostondynamics.com/atlas
Craig Sawyers is offline  
Old 7th Apr 2021, 9:41 am   #34
jjl
Octode
 
jjl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ware, Herts. UK.
Posts: 1,082
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

Quote:
Originally Posted by G6Tanuki View Post
Personally, I rather like the idea that "The Robots are coming" - by devolving humdrum low-intrinsic-value tasks to machinery it frees-up human talent which can be employed on far more visionary- and well-paid - tasks!

Truth is, "The Robots" are already here.
They certainly are - I design these as part of my day job.

John
jjl is offline  
Old 7th Apr 2021, 10:23 am   #35
Craig Sawyers
Dekatron
 
Craig Sawyers's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Oxford, UK.
Posts: 4,941
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

That is impressive.

And here was I fondly thinking that Ocado had a bunch of carbon lifeforms picking groceries.

Craig
Craig Sawyers is offline  
Old 7th Apr 2021, 10:24 am   #36
Radio Wrangler
Moderator
 
Radio Wrangler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,801
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

Brilliant!

I assume you have a recovery robot to fetch a failed one?

David
__________________
Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done
Radio Wrangler is online now  
Old 7th Apr 2021, 10:38 am   #37
jjl
Octode
 
jjl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ware, Herts. UK.
Posts: 1,082
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

Craig - there are still humans involved with this system. The robots bring trays of stock to pick stations, an operator picks items from the stock trays and places them into a delivery tray, then a robot takes the delivery tray away. When a delivery tray is eventually full, a robot takes it to a dispatch station and an operator loads the tray into a van.

David - yes, there is a recovery vehicle, but it's used as a last resort.

John
jjl is offline  
Old 7th Apr 2021, 12:46 pm   #38
peter_scott
Dekatron
 
peter_scott's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Edinburgh, UK.
Posts: 3,273
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

Military uses.

Peter
peter_scott is offline  
Old 7th Apr 2021, 2:45 pm   #39
Buzby123
Heptode
 
Buzby123's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Culcheth, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 637
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

Quote:
Originally Posted by peter_scott View Post
Now that is a very impressive demo of what CGI and Motion Capture can do. Take a look at other productions from Corridor Digital, one of them shows how they make these videos.

The Boston Dynamics dance sequence tooks months of programming to make those moves, but these robots are still just dumb automatons.

We will only get real robots when machines like Atlas are combined with advanced AI, something that BD has been suspiciously quiet about.

BD is now owned by Hyundai Motors, so a future product could be a car with it's own chauffeur, able to open the doors, load the luggage, and drive.
Buzby123 is offline  
Old 7th Apr 2021, 2:51 pm   #40
Radio Wrangler
Moderator
 
Radio Wrangler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,801
Default Re: The Robots are coming!

I definitely prefer R Daneel Olivaw.

David
__________________
Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done
Radio Wrangler is online now  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 1:21 am.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.