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from the fortunately-skynet-isn't-self-aware-yet dept.
Atlas, the hulking humanoid robot from Boston Dynamics, now does backflips.
To be clear: Humanoids aren't supposed to be able to do this. It's extremely difficult to make a bipedal robot that can move effectively, much less kick off a tumbling routine. The beauty of four-legged robots is that they balance easily, both at rest and as they're moving, but bipeds like Atlas have to balance a bulky upper body on just two legs. Accordingly, you could argue that roboticists can better spend their time on non-human forms that are easier to master.
But there's a case to be made for Atlas and the other bipeds like Cassie (which walks more like a bird than a human). We live in a world built for humans, so there may be situations where you want to deploy a robot that works like a human. If you have to explore a contaminated nuclear facility, for instance, you'll want something that can climb stairs and ladders, and turn valves. So a humanoid may be the way to go.
Source: https://techxplore.com/news/2017-11-atlas-robot-backflip.html
Also: https://www.wired.com/story/atlas-robot-does-backflips-now/
takyon: Don't forget the new SpotMini as seen at The Verge, Quartz, and Popular Mechanics. Even Ethanol-fueled couldn't stop it.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by coolgopher on Sunday November 19 2017, @02:29AM (4 children)
Proof that you can write using a real pen, proof that you have a pile of computer/rc stuff and servo gear, or proof that you did it today?
Am I missing something that obviously places this photo at Boston Dynamics?
(Score: 1, Troll) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday November 19 2017, @06:27AM (2 children)
Yeah, I wrote the timestamp on an authentic Boston Dynamics napkin I stole from the Boston Dynamics Lunchroom.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Whoever on Sunday November 19 2017, @07:13AM (1 child)
BULLSHIT. There is no indication that it is a napkin for the Boston Dynamics lunchroom.
You are just a fucking liar. Just a piece of shit who has failed at life and would like to pull other people down to your level of failure.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 19 2017, @05:01PM
Stop humanizing Ethanol-fueled. You're making it difficult to troll him.
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Monday November 20 2017, @12:45AM
At this point he's been doing a pretty good job of fucking with us. I honestly don't believe he works there because A) he has claimed he lives in California and B) Boston dynamics is in Massachusetts.