Walking Head Robot uses infrared and pistons for terror and submission

Because we didn't want you to sleep well tonight, we would like you to meet Stelarc's Walking Head Robot. Sitting atop six piston-powered legs, an LCD screen displays a creepy animated face to lull you into submission once the robot sees you with its ultrasound sensors. It then makes faces as if to trick you into believing it's really not here to destroy you and yours like some monster from The Thing. It would be one thing if the Walking Head Robot was small, but its 4-meter footprint (13-foot) is big enough to make even the largest of men turn white. To be fair, however, this robot looks to be well-constructed out of aluminum, stainless steel, acrylic, and pneumatic actuators because, after all, it's here to kill us (oops). We're begging for some video of this thing in action, so stay tuned.

[Via TechDigest]

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 9th 2008 4:08PM]

Pretty neat, now throw in some targetting computers with lasers or paint balls, and you have an attack dog made of metal my friends...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 9th 2008 4:35PM]

That think looks familiar. I think I've seen it's grand-daddy on the big screen: http://i2.iofferphoto.com/img/item/228/483/22/tsbftoy.jpg

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 9th 2008 4:48PM]

Is there such a thing as a Robot-Free Engadget? Such a site would be great for all the people that are tired of hearing about all these useless robot prototypes and don't really want to hear about robots until they are actually functional and useful.

[Mental Issues Posted Jul 9th 2008 4:58PM]

No, don't you see? Everyone must pay attention to these prototypes so they'll be prepared. The first time you'll hear about a fully functional spiderbot is when it smashes through your front door and disembowels you.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 10th 2008 1:05AM]

Actually, Engadget is one of the best sources for robot news on the internet. I'm tired of hearing about the next gigantic plasma screen, or the next fastest video card. We can't all have our way, so quit whining.

[flashpoint Posted Jul 9th 2008 4:56PM]

DOOM F*CKIN 3 ARACNOTRON - ALL CAPS EDITION

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 9th 2008 5:03PM]

Looks like the big brother to the robots in runaway. Is Gene Simmons going to do the sequel?

[SpydaKat Posted Jul 9th 2008 5:15PM]

Imagine this thing doing the spider-walk scene from The Exorcist (the original one) O_O

[Hazman Posted Jul 9th 2008 5:19PM]

If by 'iPhone compatible' you mean 'Would I like to launch iPhones at it, then yes. Yes it is.

[haX0r Posted Jul 9th 2008 5:29PM]

Imagine waking up one morning and having that at the end of the bed.

Almost as freaky as this: http://www.mondospider.com/

[haX0r Posted Jul 9th 2008 5:32PM]

Now I remember what that reminds me of, RoboCop (Cain - the cracked out robot!!!):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theadam/373540413/in/set-72157594152863131/

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 9th 2008 5:33PM]

No, you morons. The robot is clearly our new leader. All hail Zorcon the Almight Destroyer! Grant us Mercy and we shall faithfully serve as your minions!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 9th 2008 5:41PM]

Oh god, that reminds me of the creepy bot from Toy Story.

Make it go away! >.

[haX0r Posted Jul 9th 2008 5:47PM]

Make Cain go Away!!!!

http://www.trudang.com/critter/robocop2.html

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 9th 2008 5:50PM]

Ha! Easily defeated first gen spiderbot overlord wanna be! Those pneumatic tubes are connected via PTC fittings. A quick squeeze and pull on a couple of lines would disable the bot in short order.

Now when the gen 2 bots are released with DOT compression fittings and vicious chainsaw mandibles you guys are on your own.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 9th 2008 6:50PM]

Looks like a very very primitive version of Tachikoma... or at least I'd like to think that it's heading in that direction: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachikoma

[drjay868 Posted Jul 10th 2008 10:27AM]

Tachikoma looks like a toilet with legs and lazer blasters on the front... this looks much more menacing than a toilet

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 9th 2008 7:02PM]

Oh god, it reminds me so much of that robot in "A.I." who got ripped apart in the "flesh fest".

[keithwwalker Posted Jul 9th 2008 7:19PM]

Max Headroom: Rise of the Machines!

[CoolJon Posted Jul 9th 2008 7:21PM]

That looks a lot like an Xbox sitting on top of it.

[sRGB Posted Jul 9th 2008 7:55PM]

ummm, i designed the exhibition this thing is currently a apart in the national art musuem of china in beijing for the pre-olympic celebration. standing right behind it is stelarc's talking head, a 9 foot tall projection that you can interact with and talk to.

http://www.mediartchina.org/

click on artworks and you can see the rest of the artworks in the exhibition.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 9th 2008 7:50PM]

I want to ride on it! :D

[sRGB Posted Jul 9th 2008 9:00PM]

and its not 4m in diameter, its only 2.

more images:

http://www.stelarc.va.com.au/walkinghead/index.html

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 10th 2008 12:07AM]

does anyone notice the resemblance to the "dog" from farenheit 451? i dunno, that's how i visualised it. except with more hair and a snout.... i'm gonna go read the article now.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 10th 2008 1:07AM]

Aside from all the memes and robot-overlord jokes (not knocking them, I post them myself from time to time), people should check out Stelarc. He is insane. My favourite was when he turned himself into a human puppet, by suspending himself from metal guywires with meathooks through his flesh.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 10th 2008 9:54AM]

Robots schmobots, I'm more worried about Zacks anyways.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 10th 2008 11:08AM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3FmIHvYv2I
a link to a video on youtube

[Powderfinger Posted Jul 10th 2008 1:12PM]

National Bohemian, Natty Boh, A regional beer from Balmer. I'm from upstate NY and I know that. He is either winking or half shnockered.

[onepinksheep Posted Jul 10th 2008 1:48PM]

I, for one, welcome our walking head robot overlords...

... and hope that our overlords remember that I welcomed them and so not kill me.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 10th 2008 5:38PM]

this robot is going to dance at the bejing olympics this year..

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 10th 2008 6:50PM]

Creepy lookin' thing that is.

It's like a combination between a spider and that robot in RoboCop 2. Yeah, that'll please the kiddies. How cuddly.

Here's a nice little video of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3FmIHvYv2I

In the video, I love the strange noises it makes in unison with the mouth movements (FF in the video to about 1:50). There's something really disturbing about a semi-organic-looking face making unnatural, unidentifiable noises.