Robopocalypse: Invasion of the Hexapods
Every April, ambitious (and deranged) robotics students gather in Austria to compete in the annual Austrian Hexapod Championships.
What’s a hexapod, you may ask? It’s simply a six-legged robot. Why six legs instead of two or four? Isn’t it obvious? They give them those two extra legs so if one leg gets damaged the robot will still be able to chase you down and kill you.
That’s really all I know about hexapods. They have six legs. That, and the fact that they’re modeled after insects. I assume they do that to make them extra creepy to humans. If so, mission accomplished.
The site for the Hexapod Championships is in German, and since I don’t spreken ze deutsche I can’t really get a handle on exactly what these robots are competing for. But I kind of like it that way. I’d hate to learn that they’re competing to see which robots can bring about the fall of man in the shortest amount of time.
Here’s a compilation video of all the hexapod contestants from the 2008 event. Take a look and see if you can tell what they’re competing for. Funniest hexapod? Creepiest hexapod? Dumbest hexapod? You be the judge.
UPDATE: I just found out that the below hexapod won the 2008 grand prize. So my greatest fears have been confirmed. They were competing to see which hexapod will bring about the fall of man in the shortest amount of time.
How else can you explain the reckless, heartless, and downright diabolical use of Mambo #5?
(via Robots.net)
