A Dutch 'bot pumps your gas for you
Posted 02.06.2008 at 4:30 pm
6 Comments
Full-Service Fillup via Robot
It will cost more than your car, but the convenience! Pull up to a pump, and the Dutch robot fueling system from Intion Development does the rest. A robotic arm pops open the access door with one manipulator, unscrews the fuel cap with another, and then handles the fuel nozzle with a gripper-like device and fills up your car.
The website for the TankPitStop is in Dutch only, so a few of the details aren’t clear. For example: How do you pay? Clearly you don’t hand the robot your card – it doesn’t look like it’s set up to handle one, and then there’s the risk that the robot will use your credit to buy itself a Roomba, for company. But even if you do have to get out and swipe, that’s still a big advantage in bad weather, as you’d only be out in the elements for a moment.
The developers hope to see the robot installed in a few Dutch fueling stations this year. See it in action here, and be sure to keep your volume on for the fabulous theme music.
Via ZDNet
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I have to use the key to remove my fuel cap. Would I have to give the robot my keys too?
come on people its just pumping gas how hard can it be, and the last time i checked electricity and gas dont mix, so what are the safety precautions? either way you have to get out and pay or even open the cap. how does it know were the cap is?
I'm sure there is all sorts of door, cap and hole recognition gizmos, don't really see how they'll overcome the key thing though. Also there are many different ways of removing gas caps. Some you have to push and turn, some require a turn until click to close? What? Does the thing recognize your body style and figure it out that way?
Although I do have to say, I live in Utah and I often dread getting out in the bitter ass cold to fill up. A robot would be nice but on the other hand if it adds even a cent more to fill up just forget it. I'll syphen the shit by mouth if its cheaper...
it seems like if you have a supercar you wouldn't want to use that, i mean I wouldn't take the chance of that thing scratching my car and casting me a few grand
To each his own,
It's whatever man!
I agree, the though of gas and electricity and also the scratching issue make this a vast of money on R&D.