US Army to build a Cheetah robot that can run faster than humans... let's hope it doesn't get a taste for flesh

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

The Cheetah-bot will be developed by Boston Dynamics and could reach speeds of 70mph. The first prototype is due in 20 months


But despite spending taxpayer millions on the android the Department of Defense officials don't know what they will use it for

A new robot that can outrun the fastest man on Earth and a Terminator-type android that will work alongside troops is being developed for the US Army.

The speedy robot – called, unsurprisingly, the Cheetah – is being developed by Boston Dynamics, which brought to the world the $18million BigDog robot used to help soldiers carry equipment over tough terrain.

But despite the multi-million dollar contracts awarded by the Department of Defense, army officials still don’t know exactly what the robots will be used for, according to the company’s boss.

Marc Raibert, lead investigator on the project and president of Boston Dynamics told the Boston Herald the Department of Defense is ‘not so focused on what the ultimate use will be.’

He added: ‘They’re most focused on developing the technology and seeing what uses they can be applied to.’

The four-legged Cheetah will have a flexible spine and articulated head, and, when built, it will be added to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s impressive robot arsenal.


Boston Dynamics boss, Marc Raibert, who will oversee the multi-million project, said the army doesn't know what purpose the Cheetah will have


It will be able to sprint, take sharp corners, zigzag and be precise enough to stop on a dime.

The costs have not been revealed, but the multi-million dollar contract is expected to take quite a bite out of the department’s $3.2billion annual budget.

Real Cheetahs – the faster animal on land – can reach speeds of up to 70mph, and the company are hopeful their robot will be able to match them pound for metal.

The company hopes to have a prototype built in 20 months which will hit between 20 and 30mph.


Robots in disguise: The BigDog was unveiled in 2008


The Atlas robot, which looks not too dissimilar to the androids in Terminator, will be a force to reckon with, the company hopes.

It has a body, two arms and two legs but no head and will be able to walk over rough terrain, fit through tight gaps and crawl on its hands and knees if needed.

The makers hope it will be a more technologically advanced version of its Petman robot, which is used to test out chemical weapons protection suits for the army and is capable of walking at 3mph and remain standing, even when pushed.


the Atlas is set to be the newest robot built for the Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency alongside the Cheetah


Boston Dynamics hope to recreate the success its BigDog robot had when it was unveiled in 2008.

The BigDog supports American troops by carrying up to four backpacks of equipment over bumpy and rocky ground that wheeled vehicles cannot move over.

The 2ft tall and 3ft long metal beast also comes with high-tech gadgets including laser gyroscopes, video camera sensors and an on-board computer.

It wowed the world in 2008 and the company hopes to eventually sell the dogs to farmers for transporting crops.


BigDog Reflexes



PETMAN Prototype



source: dailymail

'Don't call me a WAG!' Frankie Sandford talks about her romance with Wayne Bridge for the first time.

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

'Very happy': Frankie Sandford's new romance with West Ham player Wayne Bridge was first made public when they were photographed together in Cheshire last December


She may be dating a premiership footballer, but Frankie Sandford insists she's not a WAG.

After quietly dating West Ham left back Wayne Bridge, 30, for the past two months, The Saturdays singer is ready to discuss their 'whirlwind' romance.

While the 22-year-old is careful not to use the L-word, she insists she's 'very happy' with her new man.

The pair were first spotted together near Bridge's £2million Cheshire mansion in late December - just weeks after Sandford split from long-term live-in boyfriend Dougie Poynter.

But unusually Sandford claims she can't remember when they started dating, describing their romance as a 'whirlwind'.

She tells the new issue of More! magazine: 'I really like Wayne. It's going great with him.

'But we're just a normal couple really. To be honest, I'm really not sure how long we've been together, it's all been such a whirlwind...


Support: Wayne came to see Frankie perform on the UK tour with The Saturdays


'He's really special though and it's different with him.'

Since their relationship was first outed a few months ago, Sandford has already been branded a 'WAG' as she follows in the footsteps of fellow popstar-footballer couplings such as Cheryl and Ashley Cole and David and Victoria Beckham.

But Sandford is hoping to distance herself from the stereotype of pampered WAGs with credit cards and too much fake tan.

She said: 'Don't call me a WAG! I'm not a typical WAG at all. I hate that phrase.


'Out of the blue': Sandford split from McFly bassist Dougie Poynter just weeks before she started dating Wayne


'I know people are going to say that about me, but, hey, at the end of the day, I've been working since I was 12 when I was with S Club Juniors so I don't need to rely on any man.'

While Sandford is yet to discuss why her two-year romance with McFly bassist Poynter ended, her ex has already said their split came completely out of the blue.

He said in an interview just days before Sandford went public with Bridge: 'It was totally unexpected and I really thought things were going well between us. It was bad timing just before Christmas too.'


To read the full interview with Frankie, buy the new issue of More! magazine, on sale now


Although Bridge was based in Alderly Edge, Cheshire when the couple first started dating, Sandford was delighted when he was transferred to London team West Ham on loan in January, meaning they can spend more time together.

During The Saturdays' The Headlines tour, which ends in Dublin on Wednesday, Bridge showed his support by watching her on stage during their Newcastle and Carlisle gigs.

To read the full interview with Frankie, buy the new issue of More! magazine, on sale now.


On the road: Frankie, pictured with her Saturdays bandmates on stage in Brighton, visited Wayne on her days off


source: dailymail

Hasn’t Anne read the reviews? Hathaway celebrates like SHE won an Oscar

By SARAH BULL

A little early to celebrate: Anne Hathaway and James Franco ended their Oscars hosting gig triumphantly


Punching the air triumphantly at the end of the Oscars ceremony, it was clear that Anne Hathaway and her co-host James Franco were ready to pat themselves on the back for a job well done.

Anne was later seen partying up a storm at the Weinstein after-party, throwing back champagne and dancing animatedly with a borrowed Oscar statuette.

But as the actress toasted her hosting gig, critics were already writing up scathing reviews of her and co-host James Franco's 'clumsy and downright painful' skits.


Party time: Anne parties with boyfriend Adam Shulman and The Kings Speech producer Gareth Unwin


It had been hoped that employing Anne and James as hosts for this year's Academy Awards would give the ceremony a young and fresh feel.

But despite bringing their considerable comedic talents to the plate while presenting the Academy Awards, using skits and montages to add to their hosting duties, the pair's performance was met with mixed critical reception.

The 83rd Academy Awards opened with a montage of Hathaway and Franco delving into the mind of former Oscar winner Alec Baldwin in an Inception-inspired moment, narrated by the smooth-voiced Morgan Freeman.

And things continued to get more and more surreal, as the pair poked fun at The King's Speech, which took home four Oscars, The Fighter and True Grit, as well as The Social Network and Back to the Future.


I like the feel of this: Anne borrowed an Oscar statuette to take for a spin on the dance floor at the Weinstein party


Having a good time? The actress appeared incredibly animated as she arrived at the Weinstein Oscar party


Perhaps the funniest moment of the opening montage, however, was Hathaway and Franco both donning leotards and tutus to join Natalie Portman in Black Swan.

The pair attempted to impress the hard-nosed Vincent Cassel with their dancing abilities, and left Portman looking flustered with their 'talent'.
Hathaway also returned to her former duty at the Oscars in 2009 when she joined then-host Hugh Jackman for a duet to open the show.



'Downright painful': Anne and James's presenting skills received a mixed reception at this year's Oscars


James Franco and Anne Hathaway Opening Number (83rd OSCARS 2011)



Oscars 2011- James Franco in Drag & Anne Hathaway's 'On My Own' Spoof


source: dailymail

Back down to earth: Pregnant Natalie Portman dresses for comfort in flat shoes after Oscars win

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Low key: Natalie Portman and her fiancé Benjamin Millepied enjoyed breakfast in LA today following her best actress win at the Oscars


Natalie Portman swapped red carpet glamour for practical maternity wear today following her triumphant night at the Academy Awards.

The 29-year-old, who is pregnant with her first child, kicked off her high heels for comfortable flats as she celebrated her best actress win with a low-key breakfast in Los Angeles.

She was joined by Black Swan choreographer Benjamin Millepied at Square One Dining in Los Angeles.

The star admitted this week that she was looking forward to putting her feet up after the awards season.

'Staying at home with messy hair in sweats... is the biggest luxury of all,' she said.

Last night Portman paid tribute to her fiancé for giving her the 'most important role of her life' during her acceptance speech.

During a tearful moment, the actress paid tribute to her friends, family and co-stars and described her win as 'insane'.


Comfortable: The Black Swan star wore flats and a casual outfit for her post-Oscars outing


Fighting back tears, Portman thanked her parents, Avner and Shelley Hershlag, for 'giving me my life, the opportunity to work from such an early age and showing me how to be a good human being by example'.

She also honoured Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky, who she described as a 'fearless leader and visionary', and her friends 'who are everything to me, no matter what's going on in my career'.

Looking lovingly at Millepied, a ballet dancer, she thanked her 'beautiful love' and said he had 'given me the most important role of my life'.


Easy does it: Natalie's fiancé held the door as she got into their car


Celebrities Attend Vanity Fair Oscars Party, Part 1: Natalie Portman, Sandra Bullock And More!



source: dailymail