Atlas robot learns karate

The video is very noisy, it is recommended to lower the volume of the embedded video

At the Florida Institute of Cognitive Abilities of the Person and Machine ( Cognition Institute, IHMC ) of the State of Florida, the robot “taught” movements from pseudo-martial art.

The value of this experiment will be clear if we remember that Atlas has a height of just over 180 centimeters and weighs 150 kilograms, and was forced to balance on three bricks. Only in July 2013, the developers compared their creation with a one-year-old child who is constantly falling. The cable hanging from the ceiling provides the robot with power, and does not help in the balance.
')
Anyone who watches the film “Karate Boy” immediately recognizes this position - it is taken from the end of the battle of the main character with his opponent , there is no jump or attack. And there is nothing surprising in this: human-like robots still jump very badly. Of course, the “strike of a crane” does not exist in any of the martial arts of the world. Unlike a 150 kg robot, the actor weighed only 55, and he obviously learned to walk not a year or two ago.

Previously, the robot has already been forced to walk over rough terrain, overcoming obstacles similar to natural ones. The robot is able to balance on one leg, maintaining a small push in the side, but this level of balance, like this one, was not previously shown. In the illustration to the right, the robot functions in the dark.


Demonstration of Atlas a year ago

Atlas is one of the latest developments of Boston Dynamics. This robot bipedus is a derivative of the upright PETMAN (Protection Ensemble Test Mannequin), a robot built to test chemical protection suits.

The robot is backlit with blue LEDs, two arms, two legs, a body and a head, in which stereo vision and a laser range finder are built. These systems are controlled from a computer on board; it only needs external power. Manipulators have a degree of freedom of 28 °. His sensitive hands will be able to use ordinary tools in the same way as an ordinary person.

The project has peaceful goals: they want to use the robot to work in conditions in which people cannot survive - in rescue and search operations. He should be able to open doors, open and close taps and dampers, work with electrical equipment. The US Department of Defense stated that there are no plans to use the robot as an offensive or defensive weapon.

In 2013, Boston Dynamics was purchased by Google, whose intentions to go deeper into robotics were only confirmed by the acquisition of DeepMind Technologies in early 2014. Boston Dynamics was previously funded by the United States Defense Development Research Agency (DARPA).

On June 5–6 next year, the DARPA Robotics Challenge will be held in California. The team that best demonstrates how effectively a robot can help in emergency situations will receive $ 2 million. There are many tasks: driving a car, walking on stones, removing disturbing debris, opening doors, closing the valve of a leaking pipe, and others.

The competition is interesting because you don’t need to assemble your robot: DARPA will provide a robot from Boston Dynamics.

Based on Boston Dynamics and IEEE Spectrum .