XPost: comp.ai.philosophy 
 From: juhan@logicognosis.com 
  
 On Mon, 13 Sep 2004 23:50:11 -0700, JC wrote: 
 > bullmordt@yahoo.co.nz (G.K. Konnig) wrote in message news:<3ff 
 7a0d.0409130315.12cc07aa@posting.google.com>... 
 >> This is a shame, computers and robots are still dumber than blowflies. 
 > 
 > They have used cockroach-like walking in little 
 > robots for negotiating bumpy terrain. 
 > 
 >> Where are the terminators and HALs ? 
 > 
 > Most likely human like robot is a long way off. 
 > 
 >> I need a robot to mow my lawn, but no robot can do it. 
 > 
 > Yes they can. Do a google search. 
  
 I remember seeing a TV news bit years ago about a couple of big solar 
 powered robot lawn mowers used by either the FBI or CIA. The big giggle 
 was that they didn't want humans doing it (and peering in the windows?). 
 These looked like giant beetles covered with solar cells. 
  
 I don't remember how they recognized the boundaries of what they were 
 supposed to mow? Probably any random wandering over the lawn area would 
 work. Who cares if you mow the same spot again? as long as you don't 
 obviously miss any spots. Operationally, I don't think it is such a big 
 deal. What about those automated hockey puck robot vacuums? Same thing? 
  
 There was also a Canadian engineer in NB who built his own, and seemed to 
 be amazed that he actually got media interest tracking him down in his 
 backyard hammock, with his drink in his hand, while the mower mowed. 
  
 -- 
 Juhan Leemet 
 Logicognosis, Inc. 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)