Inflatable robots

Saul Griffith, maker hero and MacArthur "Genius," has released video evidence of his latest creations, inflatable robots. So far, Saul and his colleagues at Otherlab, Meka Robotics, and Stanford University have built a 15-foot-long walking robot, called the Ant-Roach (that I've seen Saul's toddler son riding proudly atop) and a robot arm/hand.

The Ant-Roach

Lightweight, low-cost inflatable robotic arm

More detailed info at Hizook!

David Pescovitz is Boing Boing's co-editor/managing partner. He's also a research director at Institute for the Future. On Instagram, he's @pesco.

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Elefun the Elephant meets The Human Centipede
dagfooyo

Dr. Irving Schlock? Is that you?
robotnik

Strandbeest meets blow up doll.
s2redux

It’s no flying car, but at least it’s another step closer to an intergalactic proton-powered electrical tentacled advertising droid.
Lobster

I’ll be in my bunk.
Skully

Dibs on “Inflatable Robots” for a band name. I’m thinking kind of Kraftwerk-meets-acoustic-folk.
Brainspore

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is about to get a lot more awesome/terrifying.
Nadreck

Bah, we had fluidic robots back in the 60s:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6Ffr1U7KMY
Rich Keller

It reminds me of the tachikoma from Ghost in the Shell. Hopefully it doesn’t have the same overly cute voice.
Edd thompson

Ever see the girl who does that voice. Epic cute ;)
BassTooth

love that funky robot rhythm…
click click clicka click clickety click. click click clicka click clickety click…
- http://www.nathanhornby.com/ Nathan Hornby
  
  I had the volume quite low on my laptop, and actually thought there was a soundtrack until I turned up. The sounds it makes are awesome.
Mike Jackson

Of all the robots I have known, this might be the most disturbing.
Travis_D

Ah really…? You didn’t link to the Hizook article:

http://www.hizook.com/blog/2011/11/21/inflatable-robots-otherlab-walking-robot-named-ant-roach-and-complete-arm-plus-hand

I worked hard to write that up with Saul…
- David Pescovitz
  
  I didn’t find out about this from your site. But since you asked *so* nicely, I’ve added a link.
  - Travis_D
    
    Ooops… re-reading my comment, that came off really bad (snarky and in bad taste). You guys do a bang-up job citing sources; I just wanted to point you to the article. Next time, I’ll be sure to add an emoticon to indicate that I’m just joshin’ you a bit. ;-) No hard feelings.
    - David Pescovitz
      
      No hard feelings!
FreakCitySF

This project officially removes the “genius” in his introductions. But it looks like a run ride!
pjcamp

Sorry, takedown notice. I remember the ambulatory boob robot from Sleeper.
nixiebunny

Interesting idea. It might need different actuator placement to enable it to walk effectively, though, since the legs aren’t able to lift themselves up more than a couple inches. Perhaps the torso could swivel to get one leg of each pair to rise up higher?
herartsheloves

Sort of those robots from ‘Ghost in the Shell’… sort of…