What's new in robotics!

[MADem]

Meet the Next Generation of Boston Dynamics’ Bipedal ATLAS Robot


Boston Dynamics has unveiled the latest bipedal, humanoid robot. It can really take a beating, and it still soldiers on.

...The old Atlas model, first unveiled in 2013, weighed 149 kg (330 pounds) and was 1.8 meters (6 feet) tall. The new model is closer to the weight and height of an average human at just 1.7 meters (5 feet 9 inches) tall and weighing 86.1 kg (180 pounds). It is also equipped with a LIDAR system in its head, which allows it to estimate and measure distances.

In the video, the new Atlas goes through a gauntlet of tests. It walks over rough and snowy terrain unguided. It is also capable of responding to unknown situations, such as when an employee knocks the box it is trying to pick up out of its hands. The robot takes note of the new location of the box, and picks it up again.

It is also much more capable of balancing itself to prevent it from falling. Later on, another employee pushes Atlas so that it falls over, and the robot simply pushes itself upright with no sign of a scratch on it.

The new model of Atlas furthers the hopes of developing anthropomorphic robots that could replace humans in manual labor and lead to a new robotic industrial revolution.

http://futurism.com/meet-next-generation-boston-dynamics-bipedal-atlas-robot/

[Warpy]

1. It's actually easy to build robots that traverse uneven terrain

and robots that move stuff around. It turns out to be phenomenally difficult to make one do both while walking on only two legs.

This is a pretty amazing unit, especially since it is capable of getting up after it falls down.

[Warren DeMontague]

2. I know. I kept having to remind myself that it wasn't just a dude in a suit.

Pretty cool.

[Warpy]

5. I have the advantage, I watched NOVA last night,

or at least had it on in the background and glanced at it now and then. It was mostly about the need to build robot rescuers for disasters like Fukushima and was largly about an earlier Atlas prototype, a 400 pounder that had trouble with rough terrain and couldn't right itself once it had fallen (and did considerable damage to itself when it did fall). This robot is smaller, lighter, and much more agile.

I still think the bipedal design is not the best one but I'm astonished that they've gotten this far using it.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. Oh yeah. I suspect it has advantages in some specifc use cases

Particuarly situations which are already designed for the human form- but no question that all things being equal probably some kind of arachnid or crab leg arrangement is probably a better general design for most scenarios.

[phantom power]

3. yeah....

https://twitter.com/HighTechPanda/status/702676300532748289

[MADem]

4. LOL!

I have to admit, though--my "anti bulling nature" kicked in when I saw that guy knocking the box outta the robot's hand, and shoving him over so forcefully! I wanted to give him a good talking-to!

[Warren DeMontague]

7. I know. He had kind of a dickhead expression on his face, too

I wonder if that was deliberate. I kept waiting for the robot to fight back.

[MADem]

8. There's another video from those guys with a tester kicking a mechanical dog.

That causes a visceral reaction with me, too.

[Warren DeMontague]

9. I dont like bullies, either.

I took a lot of shit when I was younger. Dont anymore.

[MADem]

10. I had a sibling who used to get picked on-I spent a lot of time

resolving those issues, and that's no fun, either.

I got a bit of brief shit once as a young teen--I reacted to it viscerally and as luck would have it, I prevailed. After that I didn't have any trouble.

I'm a person who prefers to avoid trouble but I will step in if I see someone getting harassed or crapped on--it's in my DNA I guess.