Discussion on:

Meet R2: Your robotic coworker courtesy of NASA, GM

Will the second robot derived from this one be called R2D2???

does that mean it is made from cheap and plastic parts that cost more than just buying a new one

Don't get me wrong, I think the human form is a fantastic, complex creation. And, I think that the NASA and GM relationship is beneficial to both organizations.

However, I am not sure that it optimizes efficiency for a "robonaut." Why would we want "robonauts" to have a humanoid form? Surely we would not want to limit an arm to rotating only 180 degrees.

Is this being done for GM to see human safety improvements? Is this being done to make images of NASA missions more palpable to the mass public?

Humm is like a move to justify too many millons (was comming from
taxes) to keep GM on the road

The shape is explained in a previous story:

For GM, R2 would be used to test car safety and develop safer
manufacturing plants

Nice work,

Much media attention focuses on Japanese robotics; nothing wrong with Japanese achievements nevertheless, I would like see what the US, Russia, China, France, Italy, Germany, Brazil, England, etc... are doing.

Why humanoids with limited range of motion, strenght, and abilities? Because humanoids are designed to function in the human environment with human equipment and humans may have to use the same equipment or complete a given task within human range of performance.
NM