MINI2

SleeperService · Mar 13th, 2004, 02:31 AM

The top story on http://www.slashdot.org right now allegedly features a 10 foot tall bipedal robot based around an R50 chassis. Naturally, the originating website (http://www.r50rd.co.uk/research/internal/v2i/engin/) is unreachable due to the bandwidth load, and it seems a little far-fetched. Anyone got any more information? I'd love to take this at face value, but I'm just not that credulous any more :-)

Root Ginger · Mar 13th, 2004, 08:44 AM

managed to get a page on the post to load with one pic

Root Ginger · Mar 13th, 2004, 09:26 AM

Manged to get to the main page of the site. This is either a very elaborate hoax or this is real. He goes into a lot of detail. Unfortunatly the vids don't work properly on my work computer. Think I might have wrong codecs and I can't update them unfortunately.

8702 · Mar 16th, 2004, 09:00 AM

Sorry if this is a repost. I haven't been checking out the forum in awhile.

Hey everybody,
My brother came across this weird website about a guy making a robot out of a MINI Cooper. This guy is supposedly an engineer that worked on the original Cooper in the 60s. His whole idea is that "a robot would be the most natural complement to the automobile - a full biped, intelligent version having great strength, dexterity and a library of mechanical knowledge." The site is organized in a manner that makes everything look legit, but the videos provided appear completely CGI. Background history, notes, and sketches of the whole project are included. His friend traced the origin of the URL to an advertising company. From what he heard, supposedly the project is going to be the basis of upcoming advertising scheme for MINI. I guess we'll see if that's true. Here's the link to the site:
http://www.r50rd.co.uk/research/internal/v2i/engin/

scooperman_uk · Mar 16th, 2004, 09:13 AM

hells bells is that for real? check out the vids of the "stop tests" the robot stops a landrover in its tracks... http://www.r50rd.co.uk/research/inte.../stop_test.htm

great site...

Paul · Mar 16th, 2004, 09:37 AM

Looked fake to me, and this lends to that theory: http://slashdot.org/articles/04/03/0...id=159&tid=186Especially that the domain name "lives" at the same place as a production company that does commercials.

NED · Mar 16th, 2004, 11:12 AM

Looks like a lot of work has gone into it, the 'stop test' vid is amazing!!

Paul · Mar 16th, 2004, 11:38 AM

Seeing as it's that kind of site/project, it's being analysed on a Transformers site, and some others too.... Whatever they're up to it's doing quite well already on getting PR!

http://www.seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=2561
http://www.tfans.com/index.php?showtopic=1767&st=0
http://slashdot.org/articles/04/03/0...id=159&tid=186

Be interesting to see where this one goes!

jlivengo · Mar 16th, 2004, 11:51 AM

a bunch of poo poo under my shoe. It's fun to watch though.

NED · Mar 16th, 2004, 12:14 PM

Transformers! The BEST toy ever!

Probably not linked at all, but a Transformers live-action film is being made, maybe MINI will be a Hollywood star again!

paa100 · Mar 16th, 2004, 12:15 PM

That is the funniest thing I have seen in ages!

scooperman_uk · Mar 16th, 2004, 12:31 PM

heres the VW transformed vid if anyones interested http://www.wozzers.co.uk/video/vwtransformer.html

Prowse · Mar 19th, 2004, 10:43 AM

(Not quite sure where to place it in the Forums but...)

You're all gonna lurve this...

http://www.r50rd.co.uk/research/internal/v2i/engin/

ChrisBray · Mar 19th, 2004, 03:26 PM

Just been sent this. Might win the award for most modded mini! (Notice doors on legs)
More info on the link below but you need quicktime to see the videos and the download site won't bloomin work at the moment so haven't seen them myself:
http://www.r50rd.co.uk/research/internal/v2i/engin/

ninethreeeleven · Mar 19th, 2004, 04:30 PM

I have watched this (especially the car stopping video!!!) many times, and I must admit, it looks too good to be true, might be a hoax. Look at the robots feet in the above pic, they look unreal, like they were computer generated. And the car stopping, although amazing, looks a bit fake.

Although I do hope I am wrong!
-Patrick

Paul · Mar 19th, 2004, 06:34 PM

I've merged a few threads about the same thing here, sorry if it doesn't read too well!

MiniMinor · Mar 31st, 2004, 08:50 PM

Things seem a little fake to me too. Look at the dates on the links some are dated before the mini was even released....

TooLShack · Mar 31st, 2004, 10:06 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by miniminor

Things seem a little fake to me too. Look at the dates on the links some are dated before the mini was even released....

I think it is fake too, just some underground advertising by MINI I think. It's cool cause it will cause a storm of "wows" from the internet. Everyone will share the link and it will be free word of mouth advertising for MINI.

ogopogo · Apr 1st, 2004, 01:16 AM

it is fake. the man does a good job of the CG robot though. I had to watch a couple of times, frame by frame to make sure. In the one with the in the dark test, where he goes behind it to turn it on, you can tell its a CGI. Very good though. cool to watch.

bryfliesme · Apr 1st, 2004, 04:07 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by TooLShack

I think it is fake too, just some underground advertising by MINI I think. It's cool cause it will cause a storm of "wows" from the internet. Everyone will share the link and it will be free word of mouth advertising for MINI.

Me smell an April Fool!

Mar 13th, 2004, 02:31 AM	#1
SleeperService MINI Fan Join Date: Feb 2004 Local Time: 04:27 PM Posts: 48 Offline	R50 robot? The top story on http://www.slashdot.org right now allegedly features a 10 foot tall bipedal robot based around an R50 chassis. Naturally, the originating website (http://www.r50rd.co.uk/research/internal/v2i/engin/) is unreachable due to the bandwidth load, and it seems a little far-fetched. Anyone got any more information? I'd love to take this at face value, but I'm just not that credulous any more :-)

Mar 13th, 2004, 08:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
Root Ginger Amiga 500 to PS3 20 Years Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Slough, Berkshire Local Time: 05:27 PM Posts: 4,673 Offline	managed to get a page on the post to load with one pic It was acceptable in the 80's

Mar 13th, 2004, 09:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
Root Ginger Amiga 500 to PS3 20 Years Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Slough, Berkshire Local Time: 05:27 PM Posts: 4,673 Offline	Manged to get to the main page of the site. This is either a very elaborate hoax or this is real. He goes into a lot of detail. Unfortunatly the vids don't work properly on my work computer. Think I might have wrong codecs and I can't update them unfortunately. It was acceptable in the 80's

Mar 16th, 2004, 09:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
8702 MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Mar 2004 Local Time: 08:27 AM Posts: 1 Offline	Upcoming MINI advertisement??? Sorry if this is a repost. I haven't been checking out the forum in awhile. Hey everybody, My brother came across this weird website about a guy making a robot out of a MINI Cooper. This guy is supposedly an engineer that worked on the original Cooper in the 60s. His whole idea is that "a robot would be the most natural complement to the automobile - a full biped, intelligent version having great strength, dexterity and a library of mechanical knowledge." The site is organized in a manner that makes everything look legit, but the videos provided appear completely CGI. Background history, notes, and sketches of the whole project are included. His friend traced the origin of the URL to an advertising company. From what he heard, supposedly the project is going to be the basis of upcoming advertising scheme for MINI. I guess we'll see if that's true. Here's the link to the site: http://www.r50rd.co.uk/research/internal/v2i/engin/ Last edited by 8702 : Mar 16th, 2004 at 09:44 AM.

Mar 16th, 2004, 09:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
scooperman_uk almost 59k Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reading / Berks / Uk Local Time: 05:27 PM Posts: 5,212 Offline	hells bells is that for real? check out the vids of the "stop tests" the robot stops a landrover in its tracks... http://www.r50rd.co.uk/research/inte.../stop_test.htm great site... Last edited by scooperman_uk : Mar 16th, 2004 at 09:24 AM.

MINI2

Fuel for your MINI obsession

Use this forum to discuss MINI topics which are not related to other forums. Posts may be moved from here to alternative forums by the moderators without notice

Today
Sponsors	Sponsored Links Registered members do not see Google Ads posts, they can also post messages, pictures, and classified adverts. Register your free account today and become a member of MINI2 - MINI Forum

Mar 16th, 2004, 09:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 05:27 PM Posts: 40,557 Online	Looked fake to me, and this lends to that theory: http://slashdot.org/articles/04/03/0...id=159&tid=186Especially that the domain name "lives" at the same place as a production company that does commercials. There aint no party like my nana's tea party

Mar 16th, 2004, 11:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
NED Fried Gold Join Date: Dec 2002 Local Time: 04:27 PM Posts: 768 Offline	Looks like a lot of work has gone into it, the 'stop test' vid is amazing!!

Mar 16th, 2004, 11:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 05:27 PM Posts: 40,557 Online	Seeing as it's that kind of site/project, it's being analysed on a Transformers site, and some others too.... Whatever they're up to it's doing quite well already on getting PR! http://www.seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=2561 http://www.tfans.com/index.php?showtopic=1767&st=0 http://slashdot.org/articles/04/03/0...id=159&tid=186 Be interesting to see where this one goes! There aint no party like my nana's tea party

Mar 16th, 2004, 11:51 AM	#9 (permalink)
jlivengo MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Germany Local Time: 04:27 PM Posts: 74 Offline	a bunch of poo poo under my shoe. It's fun to watch though.

Mar 16th, 2004, 12:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
NED Fried Gold Join Date: Dec 2002 Local Time: 04:27 PM Posts: 768 Offline	Transformers! The BEST toy ever! Probably not linked at all, but a Transformers live-action film is being made, maybe MINI will be a Hollywood star again!

Mar 16th, 2004, 12:15 PM	#11 (permalink)
paa100 MINI2 Master Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Forest of Dean Local Time: 05:27 PM Posts: 1,313 Offline	That is the funniest thing I have seen in ages! WhatCar? Claim: “As hot hatches go, it’s hotter than a blacksmith’s armpit.”

Mar 16th, 2004, 12:31 PM	#12 (permalink)
scooperman_uk almost 59k Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reading / Berks / Uk Local Time: 05:27 PM Posts: 5,212 Offline	heres the VW transformed vid if anyones interested http://www.wozzers.co.uk/video/vwtransformer.html

Mar 19th, 2004, 10:43 AM	#13 (permalink)
Prowse MINI2 Master Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Lancs Local Time: 05:27 PM Posts: 1,537 Offline	Vehicle to autonomous biped robot conversion for the Mini Cooper r50. (Not quite sure where to place it in the Forums but...) You're all gonna lurve this... http://www.r50rd.co.uk/research/internal/v2i/engin/

Mar 19th, 2004, 03:26 PM	#14 (permalink)
ChrisBray MINI2 Regular Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Manchester Local Time: 05:27 PM Posts: 74 Offline	Extreme Mini Mods Just been sent this. Might win the award for most modded mini! (Notice doors on legs) More info on the link below but you need quicktime to see the videos and the download site won't bloomin work at the moment so haven't seen them myself: http://www.r50rd.co.uk/research/internal/v2i/engin/ Dink Dank Doo!

Mar 19th, 2004, 04:30 PM	#15 (permalink)
ninethreeeleven It is Inevitable... Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: The Empire State Local Time: 12:27 PM Posts: 109 Offline	I have watched this (especially the car stopping video!!!) many times, and I must admit, it looks too good to be true, might be a hoax. Look at the robots feet in the above pic, they look unreal, like they were computer generated. And the car stopping, although amazing, looks a bit fake. Although I do hope I am wrong! -Patrick

Mar 19th, 2004, 06:34 PM	#16 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 05:27 PM Posts: 40,557 Online	I've merged a few threads about the same thing here, sorry if it doesn't read too well! There aint no party like my nana's tea party

Mar 31st, 2004, 08:50 PM	#17 (permalink)
MiniMinor Never trust a hope ! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: ? Local Time: 05:27 PM Posts: 86,425 Offline	Things seem a little fake to me too. Look at the dates on the links some are dated before the mini was even released.... Soon be Christmas !

Mar 31st, 2004, 10:06 PM	#18 (permalink)
TooLShack MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Pensacola,Fl Local Time: 04:27 PM Posts: 4 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by miniminor Things seem a little fake to me too. Look at the dates on the links some are dated before the mini was even released.... I think it is fake too, just some underground advertising by MINI I think. It's cool cause it will cause a storm of "wows" from the internet. Everyone will share the link and it will be free word of mouth advertising for MINI.

Apr 1st, 2004, 01:16 AM	#19 (permalink)
ogopogo MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Sep 2003 Local Time: 09:27 AM Posts: 27 Offline	it is fake. the man does a good job of the CG robot though. I had to watch a couple of times, frame by frame to make sure. In the one with the in the dark test, where he goes behind it to turn it on, you can tell its a CGI. Very good though. cool to watch. Ogo the Pogo is here!

Apr 1st, 2004, 04:07 AM	#20 (permalink)
bryfliesme feisty footie Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Gilroy, CA Local Time: 09:27 AM Posts: 380 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by TooLShack I think it is fake too, just some underground advertising by MINI I think. It's cool cause it will cause a storm of "wows" from the internet. Everyone will share the link and it will be free word of mouth advertising for MINI. Me smell an April Fool!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Citroen C4 or the Mini, which robot came first	Grumbler	General Discussion	1	Mar 30th, 2005 06:33 PM
MINI Toy Robot	DarkSilverSracer	General Discussion	1	Mar 20th, 2005 07:19 PM
Citroen C4 Robot vs. MINI Robot	GregF	General Discussion	6	Dec 14th, 2004 07:31 PM
Robot MINI advert in the USA	beej	General Discussion	5	Sep 8th, 2004 04:53 AM
MINI Transformer Robot! Its huge! You won't believe this!!	averyocooper	General Discussion	4	Mar 31st, 2004 08:12 PM