Castrol Makes Robotic Motorcycle Test Rider

[White Knight]

Castrol Makes Robotic Motorcycle Test Rider – Asphalt & Rubber

The makers of Castrol synthetic oil have brought us one step closer to Judgment Day with their robotic motorcycle tester. Named Flossie, the mechanical test rider can reproduce exacting tests on virtually any bike on a dynamometer by “learning” how to ride it.

Dyno runs are often a noisy affair, and when you’re Castrol, you need to test your product in extreme temperatures, which isn’t exactly conducive to the human condition. That’s where Flossie comes in. The robot can withstand the heat, cold, noise, and reputition of hours of throttle twisting in any environmental condition. Flossie also has the built-in capability of learning any motorcycle, scooter, Buell, etc you set him on: throttle sensitivity, clutch drag, shifting patterns, etc., are all grasped and comprehended just as a human rider would getting on a bike for the first time.

Even more important for Castrol, Flossie can reproduce these tests with exacting reproducibility, thus reducing any human error in running a bike through its paces. Not bad, but does it dream of electronic sheep?

YouTube - differentiation 320x240 en

YouTube - differentiation 320x240 en

[User Name]

Huh, interesting I guess, but it seems like a bit of a gimmick to me. I see the value in being able to exactly reproduce tests, but the whole humanoid construction with legs and arms seems unnecessary considering it's really just twisting a throttle and pulling/pushing two levers. If it was actually RIDING the bike, I'd be impressed.

[modette]

I love how it says "...capability of learning any motorcycle, scooter, Buell, etc...".

So see, Buell is not a motorcycle...LOL I guess they are so bad they got their own category.

[Hybrid]

Not very far away are the days of robot racers. This is a nail in the coffin. If they develop the technology to make the segway look even gay-er with super fast gyro read and react, they will be racing motorcycles.

Combine this with some position sensors and radar proximetery and you make for actual component testing.

What are some of the biggest contributors of lack of progress? The riders imput and fear. Great riders can tell you what they feel..........but they cannot simulate it on computer software, hence why the best engineered bikes often go backwards to make a rider happy. Ive seen it........its crazy.

Just think of this or formula 1, with gadgetry so badass that the open wheels would be within inches of each other combining and fighting for the true #1 spot.

Of course when it made it to humans theyd still dumb it down for us.

Im excited!

[Hybrid]

P.S.

WHAT THE FUCK WAS HONDA THINKING WITH THAT NEW MODEL? JESUS CHRIST ITS SO FUCKING UGLY!

I love the old 1000rr...............way to ruin it you fucking slant eyes.

[Jyn]

Originally Posted by User Name

it's really just twisting a throttle and pulling/pushing two levers.

And what do we do when we ride in a straight line?

[User Name]

Originally Posted by Jyn

And what do we do when we ride in a straight line?

That's pretty much it, but you don't need to build a humanoid robot with articulated arms and legs to do that, which is why I say it strikes me as a gimmick.

[Jyn]

Originally Posted by User Name

That's pretty much it, but you don't need to build a humanoid robot with articulated arms and legs to do that, which is why I say it strikes me as a gimmick.

Agreed since the thing sits on a dyno. A different story if they put it on a track.

[ktrides2]

Dang robots taking all the fun jobs.

[kman458]

They have been working on the version that can actually ride around a track and do some testing. They were concerned that people might be afraid of it the way it was so they made it more life like. Here is that version doing a staged press conference to make sure it was good to go. Looks like they are 70% of the way there.