BIKE GOOD VS BIKE BADThe bicycle, as we know it today, has a fascinating evolution that began in the 19th century. Although the first attempts to create a two-wheeled vehicle date back to the late 18th century, the first practical design appeared in 1817 by German inventor Karl Drais. This vehicle, called the "draisine" or "walking machine," had no pedals; it was powered by pushing the feet against the ground.
In 1860, Frenchman Pierre Michaux added pedals to a larger front wheel, creating the famous "velocipede" or "boneshaker," so named because of how uncomfortable it was on cobblestone roads. Later, in the 1870s, the "penny-farthing" emerged, a bicycle with a huge front wheel and a much smaller rear one.
The modern bicycle began to take shape in the 1880s with the invention of the "safety bicycle," which had equal-sized wheels and a chain system to drive the rear wheel. This made it much more stable and accessible. In 1888, John Dunlop invented inflatable tires, which significantly improved rider comfort.
Since then, the bicycle has evolved in design and materials, becoming one of the most popular and sustainable modes of transportation in the world, used for both leisure and daily commuting.
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IT’S A VERY TOUGH AND RESILIENT ROBOTRobotics has advanced tremendously. We already have highly efficient machines designed for specific tasks: autonomous vehicles that glide effortlessly, robotic arms with surgical precision, and quadrupeds that can traverse any terrain without losing balance. Yet, one type of robot continues to dominate headlines and absorb an enormous amount of resources—bipedal humanoids.
Why the relentless push to make them walk like us? More than a technical necessity, there's a psychological factor at play. A human-shaped robot is perceived as more socially integrated, more trustworthy, and it aligns with the image that pop culture has been feeding us for decades. It doesn’t matter if they still stumble, struggle with stairs, or collapse from a simple push. What matters is that they remind us of ourselves.
The reality is that most of these robots don’t have a specific function. They are not designed to optimize any particular task but rather serve as experimental prototypes showcasing how far engineering can go in replicating human locomotion. But is this really the best path forward? While we pour time and money into making them walk like us, we could be developing far more functional machines without such a pointless limitation.
Maybe one day, we’ll move past our humanoid obsession and start designing robots that don’t need to look like us to be truly useful.
A journalist reports on the humanoid G1 robot from Unitree Robotics:
"It’s a very tough and resilient robot. Let’s put it to the test."
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