Comments on: 3D printed exploratory spiders

By: Reuben Rova

Reuben Rova — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:52:00 +0000

It look like a prototype for a HL2 strider. Are you sure it was a 3d printer. Could it have come here through a portal from the combine home world?

By: scottbp

scottbp — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:34:00 +0000

The first thing I thought when I saw that was
“OMG! the potential for practical special effects for sf / horror movies.”
Imagine actors contending with real monster creepy crawlies!!
But also 3D printing for props. This could be great, the price is still probably a little high at the moment for most but… sooon!

By: taintofevil

taintofevil — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:34:00 +0000

They should definitely have the face of an infant to make them more approachable. Maybe they could also repeat “Do not fear, friend” in a child’s voice as well.

By: Kingazaz

Kingazaz — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:25:00 +0000

Holy shit.

Thanks for that. That was . . . wow.

By: Florian Bösch

Florian Bösch — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:15:00 +0000

Wasn’t there some robot technology that could get energy from decay of organic matter (such as dead animals etc.)? I think matching this spider with that tech would be perfect :)

By: ScavengerCat

ScavengerCat — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:14:00 +0000

20 years from now, I’ll be shooting those things with a scavenged automatic rifle from the crumbled remains of an overpass, watching my brothers in the resistance fall like dominoes from the barrage of thermal guided lasernators. But for now, that’s pretty cool.

By: michael hurley

michael hurley — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:49:00 +0000

I recommend getting a taste for both. Apparently scorpians taste similar to crab and lobster. Nothing gets rid of fear like hunger. Also it will change the whole hunter/prey mentality. Check out http://girlmeetsbug.com/ for recipes.

By: Trent Hawkins

Trent Hawkins — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:42:00 +0000

If that thing ever finds me in an air-duct it better hope I don’t have a crowbar.

By: Spartan1215

Spartan1215 — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 06:50:00 +0000

Looks kinda like one of those “Replicators” from Stargate SG1

By: parrotboy

parrotboy — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:30:00 +0000

You know that he wrote a novel in which 3d printers figured prominently? Isn’t it possible that he just has an interest in the topic? I know I do.

By: parrotboy

parrotboy — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:27:00 +0000

I was never afraid of spiders until I found one the size of my fist next to my hotel bed in Peten 12 years go.

By: Dan Uznanski

Dan Uznanski — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:23:00 +0000

“Hi! I’m Spider! You’re cute!”

By: gijoel

gijoel — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:32:00 +0000

Gah, replicators.

By: Ken Williams

Ken Williams — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 03:48:00 +0000

I would “like” your post, but “like” is pretty much the exact opposite of the feeling I get with the dangly thing. It’s bedtime but now I don’t expect actual “sleep”.

By: Ken Williams

Ken Williams — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 03:48:00 +0000

Move to Australia, you’ll be afraid of spiders again.

By: vicx

vicx — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 02:30:00 +0000

Patrick Farley http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Farley was there first with his story “The Spiders” but when I went to look it up it up I found that the original and brilliant comic has been kind of disappeared off the internet.

In its place I found a 3d illustrated “prologue” that is a loose lifeless mockery of the original comic. The prologue is awful and is totally missing the casual satire, futurism, post-modernism, humanism and rough and ready art that made the original “The Spiders” so brilliant.

Luckily the Wayback machine has a copy and you need to see it. It has remote drones, entheogenic warfare, social software mediated warfare and an assassin in a hijab. Again I just don’t get that this comic could be forgotten. Chapter 3.5 looks pretty beatup due to its html layout tricks and is such a teaser for where this was going.

Consider that Patrick started this comic in late 2001 and consider this an alt reality that could still come to pass. If you enjoy this it may be advisable to make a backup of your own just in case it violates someones patent or copyright or idea of what art should say sometime in the future. It is only a matter of time before SOPA starts wiping sites from Wayback and internet archives. Sad but true.View it here while you can -> http://web.archive.org/web/20070821144640/http://www.e-sheep.com/spiders/

By: ryedha

ryedha — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:01:00 +0000

I’m beginning to wonder if Cory owns stock in Makerbot judging by the frequency of his posts concerning 3-D printed items.

By: Bat42

Bat42 — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:05:00 +0000

I hope those don’t come with retinal scanners.

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:44:00 +0000

I used to be afraid of spiders. Until I moved to a place with scorpions.

By: Hanglyman

Hanglyman — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:40:00 +0000

Runaway! I remember that movie… my friends and I watched it on a portable TV while one of us camped out in front of Best Buy when the Wii came out. I remember the end being really similar to Darkman, to the point where I got them confused later.

As for mines, it seems like something more durable might be better… something that doesn’t need to be replaced every time it sets off a mine. Or, if it’s just disarming and removing mines rather than setting them off, something with hands.

By: shagman

shagman — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:30:00 +0000

I suggest a top hat and monocle . . . and googly eyes!

By: parrotboy

parrotboy — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:28:00 +0000

Does anyone else think of the (surprisingly good) Science Fiction movie from the mid-80s with Tom Selleck in it, where he is tracking down a robot maker who has a bunch of robot attack spiders?

That’s right, Tom Selleck.

These might be useful for mine removal – a non-human way to search for mines in an area.

By: rossleonardy

rossleonardy — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:19:00 +0000

Tachikoma!

By: Red Monk

Red Monk — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:55:00 +0000

And I for one welcome our new Robot Spider Overlords!

By: echolocate chocolate

echolocate chocolate — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:42:00 +0000

Why not make them look a bit more… friendly? I mean, just cause you’re inspired by spiders doesn’t mean you have to go for the whole creepy arachnid thing. At least… I dunno… give them some blinky lights and a friendly voice, give them a little happy dance or something.

By: CountZero

CountZero — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:29:00 +0000

The wall climbing thing could be achieved with gecko tape that someone was developing a while back. Web spinning, though; that would be the kicker. Just imagine, walking through a deserted building, when you get that wierd feeling something’s behind you. You turn round, and dangling from the ceiling, right at eye level…

By: allium

allium — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 21:37:00 +0000

Perfect for eliminating those pesky carbon unit infestations.

By: jeligula

jeligula — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:16:00 +0000

Doesn’t seem entirely practical. I would have to see it in action. The arachnid advantage lies in the fine hooks that allow it to climb verticalities. A spider form that does not have this advantage would seem to be worse than useless at first thought.

By: coop

coop — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 19:53:00 +0000

The last line in the article….

A prototype of the robot can be seen at the EuroMold 2011 trade fair in Frankfurt, at the joint stand of the Fraunhofer-Gemeinschaft (Hall 11, Stand C66), from November 29 through December 2.

By: pKp

pKp — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 19:12:00 +0000

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why I love Boingboing. Give this man an Internet.