More Parkour Atlas

You know we're in trouble when Atlas starts doing things like this...

Atlas uses its whole body -- legs, arms, torso -- to perform a sequence of dynamic maneuvers that form a gymnastic routine.  We created the maneuvers using new techniques that streamline the development process. First, an optimization algorithm transforms high-level descriptions of each maneuver into dynamically-feasible reference motions.  Then Atlas tracks the motions using a model predictive controller that smoothly blends from one maneuver to the next.  Using this approach, we developed the routine significantly faster than previous Atlas routines, with a performance success rate of about 80%.

Boston Dynamics

UpTown Spot

We posted  Parkour Atlas earlier, now we have another robot from Boston Dynamics hitting the viral waves.

Spot, the celebrity robot, is seen here dancing to the music of "Uptown Funk (Glee Cast Version)". The video has been viewed over 3M times in just a few days...

Boston Dynamics

Parkour Atlas

Yikes! Atlas is getting more and more agile. Not sure if it's a good thing or not but check him out doing parkour...

Atlas does parkour.  The control software uses the whole body including legs, arms and torso, to marshal the energy and strength for jumping over the log and leaping up the steps without breaking its pace.  (Step height 40 cm.)  Atlas uses computer vision to locate itself with respect to visible markers on the approach to hit the terrain accurately.

BostonDynamics

Atlas, The Next Generation

A new version of Atlas, designed to operate outdoors and inside buildings.  It is specialized for mobile manipulation.  It is electrically powered and hydraulically actuated.  It uses sensors in its body and legs to balance and LIDAR and stereo sensors in its head to avoid obstacles, assess the terrain, help with navigation and manipulate objects.  This version of Atlas is about 5' 9" tall (about a head shorter than the DRC Atlas) and weighs 180 lbs.

Introducing Handle

As usual, Boston Dynamics' robots are fascinating to watch, like this latest one, Handle. And, as usual, they're still creepy as hell. Their latest video has around 4.5M views already...

Handle is a research robot that stands 6.5 ft tall, travels at 9 mph and jumps 4​ ​feet vertically. ​It uses electric power to operate both electric and hydraulic actuators, with a range of about 15 miles on one battery charge. ​​​Handle uses many of the same dynamics, balance and mobile manipulation principles​ found in the quadruped and biped robots we build, but with only about 10 actuated joints, it is significantly less complex. Wheels are efficient on flat surfaces while legs can go almost anywhere: by combining wheels and legs Handle can have the best of both worlds.

Boston Dynamics

Happy Holidays

Some robotic reindeer you say? And why not. Lol. The folks over at the American robotics company, Boston Dynamics, would like to wish us all Happy Holidays via this video of Santa Claus being pulled by three of its robotic reindeer aka 'Spot' dogs...

Happy Holidays from Boston Dynamics

Boston Dynamics

Introducing Spot

Introducing 'Spot', the four-legged robot from Boston Dynamics that walks, runs and reacts kind of like a dog, but with the look and feel of something out of a Terminator movie!...

Spot is a four-legged robot designed for indoor and outdoor operation. It is electrically powered and hydraulically actuated. Spot has a sensor head that helps it navigate and negotiate rough terrain. Spot weighs about 160 lbs.

Boston Dynamics

Introducing WildCat

Whoa!  More robots!  This one though is more heavy duty!!!  Watch out!...

WildCat is a four-legged robot being developed to run fast on all types of terrain. So far WildCat has run at about 16 mph on flat terrain using bounding and galloping gaits. The video shows WildCat's best performance so far. WildCat is being developed by Boston Dynamics with funding from DARPA's M3 program. For more information about WIldCat visit our website at www.BostonDynamics.com.

Boston Dynamics

Cheetah Robot runs 28.3 mph; a bit faster than Usain Bolt

Ok, so it's faster than Usain, but who would you rather running after you? lol.

Cheetah Robot is a fast-running quadruped developed by Boston Dynamics with funding from DARPA. It just blazed past its previous speed record, getting up to 28.3 mph, about 0.5 mph faster than Usain Bolt's fastest 20 meter split. This version of the Cheetah Robot runs on a treadmill with offboard power. Testing on an untethered outdoor version starts early next year.

Boston Dynamics