this post was submitted on 01 May 2024
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Mildly Interesting

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We thought the rider fell off or something and it was going to crash. Then it turned and kept mowing. Park Roomba!

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Throw a tennis ball in its path and see what happens. It must be safe, right? Right‽

[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Mowing over a tennis ball isn't harmful, I don't see what this would prove.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Depends who you ask, eh. If your tiny pet gets underneath there it's gonna be a bad day.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 6 months ago (3 children)

Fortunately, most animals do not willingly go anywhere near running combustion engines.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

Well, not anymore. /s

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

That is fortunate.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

You should meet my dog. A decent robot would be more likely to quickly stop than most human lawn mower drivers though I think.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago (1 children)

You really shouldn't be taking your hamster to the park in the first place.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

True.

How about my foot while I'm having a lie down? Would that be safe?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Make sure your foot stays close to the rest of your body. If your foot is sitting out in the middle of the grass by itself you're already in serious trouble without the lawnmower being involved.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

God, I always do that, don't I. Nevermind. I need to get myself together.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

The tennis ball is just an analog for anything actually harmful. Testing its object detection without creating genuine hazards.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

What things the size and shape of a tennis ball are you concerned about it running over?

If you're worried about it running over a person, use something that looks like a person as your analogue.