Tai Chi Robots

[Bob Hubbard]

From Slashdot.org:
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/12/31/2056255&mode=thread&tid=126

Tai Chi Robots
Posted by timothy on Tuesday December 31, @05:56PM
from the en-garde dept.
dknight writes "It seems that Chinese scientists are currently developing a robot which is capable of doing tai chi. The robot is being developed by the Beijing University of Science and Engineering, and is touted to be a great breakthrough in worker safety, as these robots could be used to perform dangerous work. They are supposedly able to sense changes in the slope of the earth around them (hills, etc.) and balance themselves out."

Original Article:

China builds robot that can play tai chi
Beijing
December 30 2002
http://www.smh.com.au/cgi-bin/commo...?path=/articles/2002/12/30/1041196584677.html

Chinese scientists have built a 1.58-metre and 76 kilogram robot which can play tai chi, the traditional Chinese form of shadow boxing, state media said yesterday.

The robot named BHR-1 passed appraisal on Saturday as a major project for the Beijing University of Science and Engineering under China's High and New Technology Research and Development Program, the official Xinhua news agency said.

BHR-1 had 32 joints from head to foot which made it move properly, said Professor Li Kejie, chief scientist in charge of the project at the university.

It can walk with 33cm steps at a speed of 1kph, he said.

The robot is able to walk and play tai chi and can also sense changing ground levels and balance itself, Li said.

Li added that this type of robot would be able to take over some dangerous jobs from humans.

 

[arnisador]

A Tai Chi robot! Well, that certainly fills a need?

 

[Taiji fan]

I know plenty of taiji robots, some taiji zombies and some taiji clones too......:rofl:

 

[arnisador]

An unrelated Tai Chi news story:

"Tai Chi pupil power"
Power Rangers lead Tai Chi at a N.I. elementary school:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/1965276.stm