Boston Dynamics likes to show off… which is good because we like to see the scary looking robots they come up with. This is Atlas, it’s the culmination of their humanoid robotics research. As part of the unveiling video they include a development process montage which is quite enjoyable to view.
You should remember the feature in October which showed the Robot Ninja Warrior doing the Spider Climb. That was the prototype for Atlas. It was impressive then, but has come a long way since. Atlas is the object of affection for the Darpa Robotics Challenge which seeks to drop a humanoid robot into an environment designed for people and have it perform a gauntlet of tasks. Research teams participating in the challenge are tasked with teaching Atlas how to succeed. Development will happen on a virtual representation of the robot, but to win the challenge you have to succeed with the real deal at the end of the year.
[Thanks Ferdinand via Endandit]
That really is a terrifying robot!
Nah. One of Boston Dynamics other robots is the terrifying one!
Just look at the PETMAN robot testing protective suits! O.o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFrjrgBV8K0
Yeah, no kidding! Petman is by far more terrifying. In fact, the more human-like they make it (like dressing it in camo), the creepier it becomes. And who in the world thought of calling a soldier companion robot Petman, anyhow?
Looks ready for the role of Hector in the remake of “Saturn 3”.
Was just going to make a comment about Hector from the movie Saturn 3.
A pretty creepy movie, with an odd pairing of Kirk Douglass and Farrah Fawcett.
i find it scary robots like this in this speed we have real terminators or cylon,s.
how far are we go gif it a gun and use it in war to hunt.
I’m more interested in the power supply they must be developing behind closed doors.
Pretty sure it has a power tether.
stithyoshi, please read and re-read what JerZ typed until you get it.
Then, realize you are an idiot.
I am under the impression that he’s referring to the unit requiring some form of mobile power source, and intended to express that, to my knowledge, their units rely on tethers for communication and power supply. At the very least, the linked page mentions that the tether carries networking which, to me, implies that, whether or not it is in fact supplying power, this unit does indeed have a tether. And that fact, though it does not remove the possibility of the unit possessing an autonomous power supply, simply allows for the possibility that the power is derived from a more or less generic municipal-type system.
I’m sorry if I missing something and, if so, would very much appreciate you or someone else kindly curing my ignorance, but is name-calling really necessary?
You’ve still not got it. He wasn’t talking about how it’s currently powered, but rather the research he suspects they are doing to make it stand-alone.
Lol it’s you who haven’t gotten it. His point is that it WILL be power tethered rendering any argument about a battery useless. Whether he is right or not is irrelevant for the sake of this argument.
Yeah. I mean, to clear up any confusion I’m just saying that there’s nothing to my knowledge that necessitates their skunkworking a compact mobile supply, though they of course could be doing just about anything.
Terminator would have been a short film if Arnie came to the end of his extension cord and fell over due to lack of power.
It’s a good deal more interesting if they are working out how to run these things without a tether, which is what the original point was.
Of course they are researching a mobile power plant, otherwise this would be the pursuit of a known dead end in developing a vehicle in this factor. Research grants can be staggering and aren’t just thrown around.
Fred, You’re the sort of person that drives people away from comment boards. There is 0 reason for you to jump at stithyoshi like that.
OR could it be you, who accuses people of ‘jumping at’ when they point out a silly mistake, that is the one that ruins discussion boards?
I know, I know, trying to make you think won’t work.
It needs a big Lexan dome to protect it’s sensors, and accordion tubing for dust exclusion from the joints.
Robbie may have been a more realistic depiction than we at first thought.
Yea, this guy looks like Robbie’s skinny cousin.
Obviously they should change the profile a bit and then it can look like this: http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Battletech_3050_Atlas_resized_8459.jpg
What it really needs is a break and pop n’ lock routine.
Cylons here we come!
i notis that cylon look to i only miss that light to scan and meby a cloe that control it
I was really hoping for a BattleMech…
Whatever you do… don’t drop the bass. A spectacular display of experimental robot dancing will ensue.
Can’t do jazz hands without hands!!
All humanoid robots I’ve seen lately remind me of 90’s Discovery channel documentaries. They are for sure a challenge to build, but they all look quite clumsy compared to HONDA ASIMO.
Call me when they can AT LEAST do this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUiZ8rZ8wzI
clumsy is highly relative,
asimo is made to be charming, with smooth humanlike motion, it does so very well.
ATLAS is of an entirely different design, where versatility and range of motion is far more important.
so it might not look as gracious, but it will be able to reach places and work where asimo never could(not that it is intended to do so, kinda my point)
Hail brave Asimo, mincing into battle!
Yup. It’s all a tradeoff between speed, power, and accuracy. Asimo may be graceful, but it can only lift a couple of pounds using both hands. Atlas can probably tote a chaingun, and unlike 90’s robots, can walk on uneven ground without moving at a snail’s pace or toppling. Considering Atlas is a concept robot for troop support, which is more appropriate?
Asimo expects a clean smooth environment and can’t lift much, and runs through a number of preprogrammed scripts during demos.
The boston dynamic ones are able to carry stuff and are expected to traverse a varied terrain and react and adapt to an unknown environment.
I was totally thinking skynet the whole time I was watching this. Both amazed and terrifying at the same time.
Aim for the hip, seems the weak spot ;)
Or actually the connection between the leg and hip, it has to be movable and carries the hydraulic fluids, so it’s a point where an successful attack will disable it a good bit.