Robot Dog Can’t Replace This Legendary Canine
pale imitation: a version of something that is not as good as the original
As robots become more and more human-like in their movements, are we all replaceable? Boston Dynamic recently showed how their Atlas robot can run, kneel, and roll like a martial artist. It can even breakdance. The G1 robot made by Unitree is also surprising people with its ability to kick and punch like Bruce Lee.
Humanoid robots aren’t the only ones making impressive breakthroughs in agility. Researchers at the University of Michigan have taught a robot dog to skateboard. Interestingly, they didn’t have to program each movement. The robot is able to learn through trial and error. They report, “We’re heading toward a future where robots aren’t just stiff machines but can learn to adapt and move like people or even better.”
As skillful as this robot is, it is a pale imitation of Tillman, the dog. This Guinness Book of World Record title holder was a living, breathing skateboarding dog. And unlike any robot, he did it with soul. Tillman died in 2015, but his impressive skateboarding and surfing skills still amaze people online today. See this irreplaceable legend in the video below.
Sample sentences
It looks just like an iPhone, but it’s really just a pale imitation. The camera is bad and it’s very slow.
The movie was based on a famous book, but it was a pale imitation. It didn’t have the same feeling or depth.
This pizza is a pale imitation of the one we had in Italy. The flavor is just not the same.
Origin
This expression comes from the idea that something that looks faded or weak is not as good as the real thing. A “pale” version has less color or strength.
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